Monsoon session from Sept. 24.

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 5. The Delhi Government has decided to summon the monsoon session of the Assembly from September 24. The session is expected to last till October 1 and would be one of the longest such sessions for the present regime. The Chief Minister, Ms. Sheila Dikshit, is understood to have discussed the matter with the Speaker, Chaudhary Prem Singh, before his departure abroad on August 27.

The decision to go in for a six-day session is being termed as a bold move by the Chief Minister who has been accused time and again by the Opposition and rivals of trying to avoid the Vidhan Sabha. By going in for a long session, Ms. Dikshit has sought to silence her opponents as well as the BJP. It is an indication that she was ready to discuss any issue that is sought to be raised by the BJP or her rivals.

Although, the government had taken a decision to hold the session sometime in August, due to the ill-health of the Chief Minister it could not be held. The Speaker, who is attending the conference of Commonwealth Parliamentary Assocaition in Australia, is expected to return by September 20, well in time for the session. It is expected that the Cabinet would be meeting soon to ratify the decision and send its recommendation to the Lieutenant-Governor and the Speaker.

Enthused by strengthening of her position within the Congress Legislature Group, she has decided to utilise the Vidhan Sabha session to increase her stature and also prepare the party for the MCD polls. It is believed that the positive response received by the Chief Minister from the ``third front'' within the Congress(I) and the backing by her supporters encouraged Ms. Dikshit to summon the longest Monsoon session. In fact, the ``third front'' MLAs -- Mr. Arvinder Singh Lovely, Mr. Mahabal Mishra, Mr. Bhisham Sharma, Mr. Brahm Pal and Mr. Jile Singh Chauhan -- have been openly seeking a long session.

Not only has the `third front'' received a positive response from the Chief Minister, but they have also been able to get the backing of the AICC(I) general secretary incharge Delhi, Mr. Kamal Nath, who has been impressed by the manner in which they had been raising various issues concerning the people, the party and the government. These MLAs have decided to raise important issues and go in for a healthy debate. In fact, the ``third front'' MLAs are of the firm opinion that the Monsoon session could be utilised by the party and the government to corner the BJP and show it in poor light.

Stating that the crucial MCD elections are a few months away, these MLAs feel strongly that the party should utilise the opportunity to attack the BJP for its inefficient and poor performance in the MCD. The deteriorating law and order situation, the poor functioning of the MCD, the failure of the DDA to provide relief and live upto their expectations are the issues likely to dominate the session.

The Chief Minister should ensure that the performance of her Ministers inside the Assembly is up to the mark and their non- performance does not put the government in an embarrassing situation.

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