Shruti Suman
The Winter Session of Parliament 2023 is scheduled to commence on December 4, 2023, and will run until December 22, 2023. In preparation for this session, the Centre has called for an All-Party meeting on December 2, 2023. The Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Prahlad Joshi, on behalf of the government, has summoned this all-party meeting. This meeting, usually convened a day before the session begins, has been rescheduled by a day due to the vote counting for five states on December 3. The Winter session is set to take place a day after the results of assembly polls in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, and Telangana are declared, and the outcome is expected to impact the session.
The expected agenda for the Winter Session of Parliament 2023 includes the consideration of three crucial bills aiming to replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), and the Evidence Act. Additionally, discussions are likely to take place on the report of the Ethics committee regarding the “cash for query” allegations against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, with the committee recommending her expulsion. While the government aims to advance its legislative agenda, opposition parties are expected to emphasize discussions on their concerns.
Another significant pending bill in Parliament pertains to the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and the election commissioners. It is noteworthy that this Parliament Session marks the final one for the BJP-led government, led by PM Narendra Modi, as its tenure concludes next year ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections in 2024.
