Bhubaneswar: Following a two-and-a-half hour long discussion, the state Assembly Thursday passed a resolution for the formation of a Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad) in the absence of members of the Opposition.
The resolution was introduced in the Assembly by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Keshari Arukha and he strongly advocated the formation of the council. Members of the BJD, the Congress and the BJP participated in the debate but staged a walk-out when the resolution was put to vote.
As many as 104 members of the ruling BJD including Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik participated in voting following which the resolution was declared passed. “The growth of Odisha has picked up momentum. To further accelerate growth, wider consultations are necessary. In this context Legislative Council will be of great help,” the CM said.
The proposed Legislative Council will have 49 members and the state will have to spend Rs 35 crore annually for the functioning of the House. The members of the proposed council will get salary and allowance as given to the members of the legislative assembly.
According to Article 171, clause (1), of the Constitution, the total number of members in the Legislative Council of a state shall not exceed one-third of the total number of members in the Assembly of that state. As the total number of members in Odisha Assembly is 147, the total number of members in the Council will be 49.
Of the 49 members, 16 will be elected by members of panchayat samitis, zila parishads and urban local bodies (ULBs), while 16 others will be elected by the MLAs, four from among government teachers, as many from among elected graduates and nine will be nominated by the Governor.
Biased Neutral
The framers of the Constitution envisaged the office of the Governor as a neutral constitutional authority, detached from partisan politics...
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