Bhubaneswar: The Opposition party Biju Janata Dal (BJD) will not participate in the Assembly orientation programme to be held on August 17 and 18 for the newly elected MLAs, citing the presence of non-members of the Assembly.
At a press meet, Pratap Keshari Deb, BJD deputy chief whip in the Odisha Assembly, said that the tradition of the Assembly should not be compromised. The dignity of the Chief Minister and Speaker should remain unharmed. The programme seems to be a BJP programme. If the programme is graced by the non-members of the Assembly in the presence of the Chief Minister and Speaker, then it will amount to the loss of dignity,” Deb said.
“We have nothing to say if the BJP conducts a training programme in a separate hall for its elected members. But, any official programme should follow the formalities,” he added.
As per the schedule, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will inaugurate the function while Union Health Minister J P Nadda will address the valedictory session.
Usually either the Chief Minister, who is the Leader of the House or the Speaker becomes the chief guest of the inaugural and valedictory sessions.
This time, a serious exception in the tradition of the House has been made, Deb said.
The orientation programme will be held in the assembly premises to acquaint the MLAs with the rules and procedures relating to the business of the House, the functioning of various Committees, the budgetary process, the privileges & conduct of members and the use of the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA), an assembly official said.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling said that the programme will be held as per the directive of the Speaker.
The programme will have four sessions on August 17 and 18.
“Veteran member Ranendra Pratap Swain will address the Parliamentary Privilege and Customs, convention and ethics. A session will be held on the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA). Former Finance Minister Prafulla Chandra Ghadai will deliberate on the budgetary issues. We have also invited MP Bhartruhari Mahatab as a guest who will speak on the committee system in a democracy,” Mahaling said.
On August 18, former Minister Narasingh Mishra will also deliberate on the post-lunch session on the Legislative Process.
Harivansh Narayan Singh, deputy chairman of Rajya Sabha, has been invited by the Speaker, who will address the valedictory session and share his experience.
The orientation programme will be very beneficial for the newly elected members as well as old ones, the minister asserted.
