Kerala Assembly begins more than a month-long session on Monday, mainly to consider the full budgetary demands for grants for the current year and pass the Finance Bill.
The House will take up the Kerala Government Land Assignment (Amendment) Bill on the opening day against the background the government’s assurance to make title deeds of the settlers in hill areas condition-free. The other Bill listed for consideration on Monday is Kerala Local Authorities Loan (Amendment) Bill.
The session is likely to be stormy with the Opposition raising issues such as the palmolein case, increase in price of fuel and spread of leptospirosis besides corruption charges against ministers. The Opposition would content that the government was manipulating the palmolein case to save Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
The Chief Minister will be coming to the Assembly after what is described as a successful visit to Delhi to win the demands of the State on the developmental front, though the results could be evaluated only on the long-term.
The treasury benches will focus on government’s achievements in implementing the 100 days action plan during the debates. The government has been able to carry out most of the programmes proposed, though some remained incomplete. (For example, there was no full disclosure of ministers’ assets and liabilities. Though a record number of ration cards were issued in 100 days, nearly 15000 tribals are yet to get it because of technical issues). The government will be on the defensive when it comes to the spread of various contagious diseases in the State. However, it could say that the situation was no better during the rule of the previous government.
The House will be short of time to take up several published bills, as the session is scheduled to end on November 3. These include the Kerala Protection of River Bank and Regulation of Removal of Sand (Amendment) Bill and bills seeking to amend the criminal laws, laws on Kerala Public Service Commission, Kerala Tailoring Workers’ Welfare Fund and shops and commercial establishments.
The House will begin the debates on the demands for grants from Tuesday and this would continue till October 20. The Appropriation Bill would be taken up on October 25 and the supplementary demands for grants for the current year on November 2. In between, there will be break in sittings for Mahanavami, Vijayadasami and Deepavali besides Saturdays and Sundays.
