Congress Still Undecided on Haryana Legislature Party Leader As Winter Session Nears

Chandigarh: Haryana Assembly's winter session will begin here on Wednesday during which opposition Congress is preparing to corner new BJP government on issue of short of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer affecting farmers.

State's Agriculture Minister Shyam Singh Rana, however, assured farmers that supply of DAP in state remains equate and uninterrupted.

After a meeting of Business visory Committee of Assembly, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini told reporters on Monday that it has been decided that session will be held on vember 13, 14 and 18 with three holidays in between.

"Some bills will also be brought during session," Saini said.

This will include one for ensuring job security for contractual employees until of superannuation, a move which will benefit about 1.20 lakh such employees, Haryana Minister Krishan Kumar Bedi said.

Two months before Assembly polls, Haryana Cabinet h given its approval to bring an ordinance in this regard and w Haryana Contractual Employees (Security of Service) Bill, 2024 will be brought in winter session.

session will begin with Goverr's dress followed by a discussion in House on motion of thanks and chief minister will reply on vember 14.

opposition Congress, still reeling from third consecutive defeat in assembly polls, is yet to decide its legislature party leer.

Congress leer and former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Monday said that high command will soon decide on Leer of Opposition.

He said party leers are presently busy in Maharashtra and Jharkhand elections.

Congress leer Geeta Bhukkal also indicated that decision is likely to be taken by party's high command after Maharashtra and Jharkhand polls.

She said opposition will raise issues like short of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) that is affecting farmers.

Haryana Congress Legislature Party (CLP), which h held its first meeting here on October 18 after Assembly poll results anunced on October 8, h passed a resolution authorising party high command to appoint its next leer in house.

Hooda was Leer of Opposition in previous House and after string of losses, a section of leers wants younger generation to take over.

Asked about delay by Congress in naming Leer of Opposition, Chief Minister Saini quipped, "This is ir internal matter." Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mahipal Dhanda said opposition has specific nda for session beginning on Wednesday and is inste embroiled in internal conflicts.

"y have t even been able to finalise who will be Leer of Opposition," he ded.

"It is essential to have a Leer of Opposition in Assembly to facilitate meaningful discussions.

"People t only look to government but also to opposition leers to raise concerns of ir respective areas. Without a Leer of Opposition, what can public expect from m?" quipped Dhanda.

Bedi also took a dig at Congress, saying, "We have never seen such a helpless, issue-less opposition in our life".

Bhukkal, meanwhile, said Congress will be raising issues related to farmers, health, education, unemployment, inflation and drugs during Haryana Assembly session.

"Farmers are facing a DAP short and y have to stand in queues, but government is claiming re is short," Congress leer said.

"We will also raise issue of defacement of our cities where one finds posters, hoardings and banners put up on walls. Besides, re are heaps of garb dumped here and re," she alleged.

Bhupinder Singh Hooda said government is continuously claiming that re is short of fertilizers, "but truth is that till w farmers have t been able to get even half fertilizer as compared to demand".

However, State's Agriculture Minister Shyam Singh Rana assured farmers that supply of DAP in state remains equate and uninterrupted.

(Except heline, this story is t edited by Republic and is published from a syndicated feed)