With the special session of Parliament set to begin next week, BJP issued a three-line whip to all party MPs of Lok Sabha to be "positively" present in the House from September 18 to 22 to discuss very important legislative business and support the government's stand.
"All BJP members in Lok Sabha are hereby informed that some very important legislative business will be taken up for discussion and passing in the Lok Sabha from Monday, September 18 to Friday, September 22, 2023. All members of BJP in Lok Sabha are therefore requested to be positively present in the House throughout on all the five days...and support the Government's stand," the whip read.
After keeping the agenda under wraps since the announcement of the special session, the government on Wednesday said it had listed a special discussion on Parliament's journey of 75 years on the opening day. On September 19, the proceedings of Parliament will likely take place in the new Parliament building.
The government has also convened an all-party meeting on September 17, a day before the start of the five-day session, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said in a post on X (Twitter).
READ | Centre Releases Agenda Of Special Parliamentary Session, Four Bills In Govt's 'Tentative List'
Parliament Special Session: What Is The Agenda Listed By Centre?
During the special session, the government has listed two bills to be taken up in the Lok Sabha and two in the Rajya Sabha for consideration and passage.
Among the bills listed, the legislation on the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and other election commissioners is likely to become a bone of contention between the Opposition and ruling party. The bill was introduced in Rajya Sabha during the last Monsoon session.
The bill proposes excluding the Chief Justice of India from the panel to appoint Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners. The Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Centre will be part of the committee to select top poll officers, as per the bill. The Prime Minister will chair the panel.
The other bills listed for passage in Lok Sabha includes The Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023, which has already passed by Rajya Sabha on August 3.
Besides, The Post Office Bill, 2023, has also been listed for consideration in the Lok Sabha. The bill was earlier introduced in Rajya Sabha on August 10.