Odisha’s evolving political, social, cultural and development landscape continues to shape public discourse, with key developments raising important questions around governance, identity, opportunities and change
OdishaPlus Bureau
The Odisha Legislative Assembly will convene the 17th session of the 17th Assembly from September 22, with the House scheduled to transact business until October 3, according to the provisional calendar issued by the Assembly Secretariat on Thursday.
The upcoming session is expected to provide the government and the Opposition an opportunity to debate a range of issues concerning the State, with most of the sitting days earmarked for government business. The detailed legislative agenda, including Bills and other matters to be taken up, will be finalised in accordance with the programme issued by the Assembly Secretariat.
The session will begin on September 22 and continue for nearly two weeks, though there will be breaks during the period. The Assembly will not meet on September 26 and 27, which fall on Saturday and Sunday. The House will also remain closed on October 2 on account of Gandhi Jayanti.
September 25, a Friday, has been designated for Private Members’ Business. Legislators will have the opportunity on the day to introduce and discuss Private Members’ Bills and Resolutions, providing members an avenue to raise issues and propose legislative measures outside the government’s official legislative programme.
With the majority of the sitting days reserved for government business, the session is likely to see the government present and defend its legislative and policy agenda, while Opposition members are expected to raise issues relating to governance and implementation of government programmes.
The Assembly Secretariat’s provisional calendar, however, does not spell out the specific subjects that will come up for discussion. The detailed business will be determined and circulated as per the established legislative procedure.
The session will be the latest sitting of the Assembly since the BJP government, headed by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, assumed office in June 2024 after ending the Biju Janata Dal’s 24-year rule in Odisha.
The government is likely to use the session to highlight its policy priorities and progress on its development agenda, while the Opposition is expected to scrutinise government decisions and raise matters of public interest.
The provision of a dedicated day for Private Members’ Business will also allow legislators across party lines to bring specific issues before the House and seek wider debate on matters that may not form part of the government’s legislative agenda.
The Assembly will resume its normal sitting schedule after the Gandhi Jayanti holiday on October 2 and conclude the session on October 3, unless the provisional programme is subsequently modified by the competent authority.
The final list of Bills, resolutions, questions and other business will be taken up according to the detailed schedule issued by the Assembly Secretariat.