The government has decided to hold an extended winter session of Parliament from February 5 to 21, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath announced Thursday. With Lok Sabha elections in May-June, sources said the government will get a vote-on-account on February 17. A vote-on-account provides for government expenses till a new regime is in place and a regular budget is passed. The resumption of the winter session by the Congress-led government is being seen as an exercise to showcase Rahul Gandhi as a symbol of probity in public life during the Lok Sabha poll-campaign, as the government plans to clear six anti-graft bills as a sequel to the Lokpal Bill passed last month. The anti-corruption package includes the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013, the Right of Citizens for Time-Bound Delivery of Goods and Services and Redressal of their Grievances Bill, 2011, the Public Procurement Bill, 2012, Bill to Address Foreign Bribery as required under Article 16 of UNCAC, Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill, 2010, and the Whistle-blowers Protection Bill, 2011. Rahul had thrown his weight behind the Lokpal Bill before it was passed by the Lok Sabha.
