Lok Sabha session from June 1
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 23
The newly elected UPA government will convene the first session of the 15th Lok Sabha from June 1 to 9.

As expected, the week-long session will be devoted to the oath of affirmation to members of Parliament, election of the Speaker, address of the President to both the Houses of parliament on June 4 and discussions on the motion of thanks to the Presidential address.

Resolving to get going with government’s priorities of bailing out the economy and further pushing the social legislations, the union cabinet met this morning, a day after it was sworn in, and decided to convene the Parliament session as early as possible. A recommendation to this effect will soon be made to the President, Home Minister P Chidambaram said today after the cabinet meet.

Although the deadline for expenditure approvals sought by the government in February this year (through vote on account) lapses sometime in late June, the government did not indicate presenting another vote on account in the first session of the new Lok Sabha. As was likely, the budget session of the parliament is likely to be convened sooner than expected this year, with Chidambaram today saying the budget could be passed by July 31, failing which a vote on account will be sought. That leaves the finance ministry with little time to move on this front.

As regards the business of the first Lok Sabha session, the first two days will be reserved for oath of affirmation to the newly elected members. On June 3, election for the Lok Sabha Speaker would be held, followed by the President’s address to both the houses of parliament on June 4 - the date of commencement of Rajya Sabha session.

In all, the Parliament session will have seven sittings, said the Home Minister, indicating the eagerness of the UPA to move fast on the delivery of promises. Home minister, while quoting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who chaired the new cabinet’s maiden meeting today, said, “We have promises to keep.”

Traditionally, the first session of the new Lok Sabha witnesses the business which the union cabinet today listed and finalized. However, past precedents show that normally in an election year, the first session also sees a vote on account to enable the government to withdraw money from the Consolidated Fund of India till the time the general budget is passed and made effective.

In the forthcoming week-long session of the Lok Sabha, the government has kept aside June 8 and 9 for Motion of Thanks to the President. Discussions on the motion will start from June 5 after the Rajya Sabha commences on June 4.

As regards the appointment of parliamentary affairs minister, the Prime Minister is expected to announce the portfolio by Tuesday when the likely expansion of the newly-announced union cabinet takes place. Till then, the PM will hold the charge of the portfolios whose ministers are yet to be announced. Today, only six portfolios were distributed including finance, home, defence, external affairs, railways, agriculture, food and civil supplies.