New Delhi - Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday
called for a 'new beginning' at the opening session of the new
Parliament, when the Congress Party-led coalition was to unveil its
policy imperatives after winning the recent national elections.
Singh, at the head of the United Progressive Alliance government
which is beginning its second term, sounded optimistic as new
members assembled at the Parliament House.
'I sincerely hope we will make a new beginning and that parliament
will be allowed to run smoothly - that dialogue, discussion and
reason will prevail in our proceedings,' Singh said.
'We will give all due respect to the opposition in discharging
their responsibilities.'
Singh is expected to have a free hand in implementing policies and
reforms without much pressure from party allies as Congress notched
up its best performance in almost two decades, winning 206 seats, up
from 145 in the 2004 elections.
The main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party could manage only 116
compared to 138 seats in the previous election.
After the swearing-in concludes Tuesday, 64-year-old Congress
leader Meira Kumar, who belongs to the Dalit or so-called low caste,
will become the first woman to be elected speaker of the Lok Sabha or
lower house on Wednesday. The session will have seven sittings and is
due to conclude on June 9.
Thursday is considered an important day when the government will
unveil its agenda for the year in the Presidential Address.
Singh's cabinet has already finalized President Pratibha Patil's
speech which is expected to spell out the policies and plans of the
Congress party and its allies.
The address is expected to focus on Singh government's moves to
strengthen welfare schemes and boost the economy.
Soon after the election, Singh drew up a 100-day action plan for
his government and emphasized its top priority would be economic
revival and inclusive growth.
Among other issues that will figure prominently in the address are
strengthening of Congress' flagship social sector initiatives like
the rural employment guarantee programme.
There will be a debate June 5, 8 and 9 on the president's address.
The government is likely to present its budget in the first week of
July in the next session.
After results of the five-stage polls were declared last month,
Singh said the Congress had far surpassed the majority figure of 272
in the 545-member house as it had the backing of 322 members.
A total of 543 of the Lok Sabha's 545 members are directly elected
by popular vote to represent individual constituencies for five-year
terms. Two members are yet to be nominated to the house from the
Anglo-Indian community.
The Rajya Sabha has 245 members serving staggered six-year terms.
Most members are elected indirectly by the state and territorial
legislatures in proportion to the state's population.
The number of women elected to the Lok Sabha increased this time
around, as well as members with criminal records. According to
government data, there are 59 women representatives, the highest
number ever, 14 more than the previous Parliament.
Association of Democratic Reforms, a voluntary organization which
works on electoral reforms, said there are about 150 members with
criminal records, 22 more than the last time.
Ram Sundar Das is the oldest member, from the eastern state of
Bihar, at 88 years. Mohammed Hamdulla Sayeed, a lawmaker from India's
island territory of Lakshadweep, is the youngest at 26.
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