From Punjab's Assembly Session To New List Of Candidates For State Polls: The Week Ahead

The Congress and the BJP are likely to release the names of the rest of their candidates in the week ahead as the nomination deadlines draw closer.

With the nomination deadlines for the elections in five states, parties are expected to announce the rest of their candidate in the week ahead. With protests from the candidates denied tickets so far, the BJP and the Congress have an uphill task ahead to quell dissatisfaction and work further on the pending lists.

Stay with ABP Live as we try to cut the clutter around the latest news from the political arena and help you understand what is likely to happen in The Week Ahead. Here are the biggest political developments expected to play out this week.

Amid Row With Guv, Bhagwant Mann Govt To Hold Punjab Assembly Session On October 20 

Amid a raging fight with the Governor, the Punjab government has scheduled the assembly session on October 20-21. The session landed in a controversy after Governor Banwarilal Purohit called it "illegal".

However, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema dismissed the claim and said the governor should change his legal advisor as he was ill-advised on the session's legality. The governor's office insisted that any business conducted during this period would be "unlawful".

"I want to tell honourable Governor saab [sir] that [the upcoming] session is legal, and important bills related to the Punjab government and the people of Punjab will be discussed. Governor saab should not make any comment on the Punjab bills."

Responding to queries about the governor's previous refusal to give assent to four bills passed during the June 19-20 session, Cheema stated that the state government had not yet received any letter indicating the governor's decision. However, he expressed optimism, saying, "I think that the Governor saab will give his assent (to the bills)."

This marks the second instance this year of a conflict between the AAP government and the Raj Bhavan regarding the summoning of an assembly sitting, with the recent developments expected to heighten tensions.

The Raj Bhavan reminded the assembly secretary that a similar special sitting of the budget session in June had been termed "patently illegal" by the governor a few months ago.

Officials from Punjab had previously said that the October 20-21 session would be an extension of the fourth session—the budget session in March. They argue that the session's connection to the budget session negates the need for the governor's approval.

The upcoming session is anticipated to address the recent Supreme Court directive on the construction of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal in Punjab. The state, reluctant to complete the project, claims it has no water to spare for neighbouring Haryana.

As per the tentative schedule issued by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha Secretariat, the session will commence with obituary references on October 20 at 11 am, followed by legislative business at 12 pm. Legislative business will continue on October 21.

The Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government has previously clashed with the Raj Bhavan on several issues, with the governor asserting in July that once the meeting's business concludes, it cannot be artificially prolonged. This response followed Mann's urging for the governor to sign the Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which is still awaiting approval after being passed during the June 19-20 session.

Raghav Chadha's Plea Against Rajya Sabha In SC

The Supreme Court is slated to examine a petition presented by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Raghav Chadha on Monday, challenging his indefinite suspension from the Rajya Sabha. The bench, comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, is scheduled to hear Chadha's plea. He faced suspension on August 11 during the concluding day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament on grounds of gross rule violation, misconduct, defiant demeanor, and contemptuous conduct. The suspension is pending a report by the privileges committee.

Chadha, represented by advocate Shadan Farasat, contends in his plea that the authority to impose indefinite suspension is perilously susceptible to excess and abuse. He argues that the power to suspend is designed as a shield, not a sword. According to the plea, it cannot be punitive. The suspension allegedly violates Rule 256 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States, explicitly prohibiting the suspension of any member beyond the remainder of the session.

The plea highlights that extending suspension beyond the ongoing session is not only irrationally disproportionate but also infringes upon basic democratic values. This, according to Chadha, results in unnecessary deprivation of the member and, more significantly, leaves the constituency unrepresented in the House.

Emphasizing the constitutional dimension, the plea asserts that suspension cannot equate to dismissal. According to Article 101(4) of the Constitution, indefinite suspension outside the session period effectively creates a vacancy after 60 days.

On August 11, a motion was passed in the Rajya Sabha via a voice vote. The motion, moved by Leader of the House Piyush Goyal, sought action against Chadha for including the names of some Upper House members in a proposed select committee for the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, without their consent.

The Supreme Court's deliberation on Chadha's plea is anticipated to provide clarity on the constitutional dimensions of indefinite suspensions in parliamentary proceedings.

Big Task Ahead As Parties Decide On Candidates For Polls  

All parties in the five poll-bound states — Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, Rajasthan, and Telangana, are expected to release the names of all their candidates this week as the nomination dates come close. 

The nomination deadlines for the five states are as follows:

Chhattisgarh: Phase 1 - October 20; Phase 2 - October 30
Mizoram: October 20
Madhya Pradesh: October 30
Telangana: November 3 
Rajasthan: November 6

The first lists have, however, created troubles for the Congress and the BJP in Telangana and Rajasthan respectively. BJP ticket aspirants in Rajasthan who did not find a place on the first list staged massive protests, prompting the top brass to go into damage control mode. The party said that the protests were but a minor issue, which the BJP would iron out and that the leaders would soon "speak in one voice".

The Congress, too, is in a soup over the allocation of tickets in Telangana. Candidates protested, barged into the party headquarters, and even came to tears for not getting tickets, according to media reports. With the crucial elections around the corner, the two biggest parties of the country need to be on their toes and prevent any more internal rifts.

KCR To Address 40 More Public Meetings Ahead Of Telangana Polls

Telangana CM and BRS president K Chandrashekar Rao kicked off the poll campaign for his party on Sunday with the release of the party's manifesto. He will address 40 more rallies till November 9. The Telangana elections will be held on November 30.

KCR, who will file his nomination from Gajwell and Kamareddy seats, announced a new insurance scheme for BPL families, pension scheme for widows, disabled, and senior citizens, monthly allowance for all eligible poor women, LPG cylinder at Rs 400, and many other promises in the BRS manifesto.

The BRS is not allying with either the NDA or the I.N.D.I.A in the assembly and Lok Sabha polls.

Stay tuned to ABP Live as we track the updates on these stories and more.

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