Session could be rescheduled

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said, 8220;The session would rescheduled in a manner that the number of sittings do not get reduced. It would be decided at the BAC meeting of Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha.8221;

The first-half of the session was to continue till March 21 and break for a 27-day recess to allow Standing Committees to go through the demands-of-grants of various ministries, which need to be adopted by the Houses by May 14. The second-half of the session8212;which is now clashing with the UP polls8212;was to meet on April 18 and continue till May 22.

It is likely that the first-half is curtailed by a few days after the Railway and the General budgets are presented. 8220;This would allow the Standing Committees to deliver the grants in time for passage,8221; sources said.

There will be an attempt to wrap up the second-half before the UP polls begin. 8220;If the House meets after the polls get over on May 8, there would not be enough time to pass the grants,8221; the sources said.

Given the fact that the Speaker is against curtailing the overall number of sittings, the government has to do a lot of calculations. It is also an embarrassment for the government that the session has to be reschedule after President APJ Kalam8217;s notification calling it has been issued.