Winter Session of Parliament From December 11 to January 5; Discussion on Ram Temple Issue, Rafale Fighter Jets Deal Likely

Speculations are rife that the Opposition is eyeing to corner the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central government on the issue of Ram Temple construction in Ayodhya, Rafale fighter jets deal during the session which will end on January 8.

New Delhi: The Winter Session of Parliament will begin on December 11, the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs announced on Wednesday. Notably, the counting of votes for the Assembly Election 2018 in five states – Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Mizoram, Chhattisgarh – will also be held on the same day. This session is the last before the Lok Sabha Elections 2019.

Speculations are rife that the Opposition is eyeing to corner the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central government on the issue of Ram Temple construction in Ayodhya, Rafale fighter jets deal during the session which will end on January 8. Besides, Bhima Koregaon and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) row may also be raked up during the session.

The government would push for the passage of the triple talaq bill pending in the Rajya Sabha. It also wants the Indian Medical Council amendment ordinance and the companies amendment ordinance to be passed as bills in this session.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel confirmed to PTI that the session would held from December 11 to January 8. He also added that it would have 20 working days. “We seek support and cooperation of all parties for the smooth functioning of Parliament during the session,” he said.

The CCPA, headed by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, met on Tuesday night at his residence, and deliberated on the dates of the session.

The government is keen on repeating the success of this year’s monsoon session, which was one of the most productive sessions of the Lok Sabha in 18 years.

The session, which began from July 18 and ended on August 10, had witnessed a no-trust vote in the Lok Sabha and a floor test in the Rajya Sabha over the election of the deputy chairman.

The Winter Session of Parliament usually starts in November. However, it would be the second year in a row when it would begin in December. In 2017, the Winter Session was held from December 15 to January 5.