Budget Session likely to be cut short

Several parties had requested that the session be curtailed due to the assembly polls

Parliament's budget session is likely to be shortened by two weeks before voters in Assam and West Bengal cast their votes in the first phase of elections on March 27.

Key opposition parties – Congress, Trinamool, Left parties, DMK – were engaged in a high-pitched campaign in the election bound states of Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. The elections are crucial as a thumping victory for the opposition could set the tone for the general elections of 2024.

A number of Lok Sabha members have written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla requesting him to cut short the Budget Session to allow them to campaign in the assembly elections.

Read | Parliament to resume usual functioning at 11 am from March 9

The second part of the Budget Session began on Monday and as per original schedule would continue till April 8.

Congress' Lok Sabha strategists – floor leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, his deputy Gaurav Gogoi, party whips Kodikunnil Suresh and Manickam Tagore are busy with campaigning in West Bengal, Assam, Kerala and Tamil Nadu respectively. Congress has maximum members in the Lok Sabha from Kerala, Punjab and Tamil Nadu.

Trinamool and DMK have the largest contingent of members from West Bengal and Tamil Nadu respectively in the Lok Sabha.

At a meeting of Lok Sabha's Business Advisory Committee (BAC), Birla spoke with various floor leaders on a one-on-one basis to take a sense on curtailing the session which began on Monday.

In the Rajya Sabha, Trinamool member Derek O'Brien said due to the polls, MPs of his party would not be able to attend the Parliament session.

“I am writing to you as the parliamentary party leader (Rajya Sabha) for the All India Trinamool Congress. Sir, we urge you to consider the adjournment of the ensuing Parliament session, because of the declaration of elections in five states,” he said.

At the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee, Biju Janata Dal did not agree with the demand for curtailment of the session. YSR Congress Party member P V Midhun Reddy said if the current session is curtailed, the next session should be longer.