Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has announced that an All Party Meeting will be held on November 24 at the Parliament House Annexe, ahead of the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament. The meeting will take place at 11 am in the Main Committee Room to discuss key legislative matters before the session kicks off.
Rijiju, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs, also confirmed that the Winter Session will begin on November 25 and run through December 20, 2024. The session’s dates have been officially approved by the President of India on the recommendation of the Government of India, as shared by the minister on X. Rijiju added that on November 26, the nation will mark the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Indian Constitution, with a special celebration at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan.
The Winter Session is expected to witness crucial legislative business, including efforts by the government to pass the Waqf Amendment Bill, which is currently under review by the Joint Parliamentary Committee. Additionally, the government is likely to introduce the controversial ‘One Nation, One Election’ bill, a proposal aimed at holding simultaneous elections for both the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. This initiative, championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is part of a broader vision to streamline India’s electoral process and strengthen the country’s democracy. PM Modi has emphasized that this reform would optimize the use of national resources and help propel India toward becoming a developed nation.
However, the proposal has sparked opposition, particularly from the Congress Party. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge dismissed the idea as “impossible” and insisted that the Prime Minister must bring all parties on board in Parliament for the initiative to succeed.
The session will also likely address the results of the assembly elections in Jharkhand and Maharashtra, with outcomes expected on November 23, which could influence the ongoing discussions in Parliament.