Govt begins Winter session outreach with all-party meet

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has convened an all-party meeting on November 30, ahead of the Winter Session of Parliament that will begin on December 1. The meeting, considered a long-standing parliamentary convention, aims to build consensus among political parties before the start of each session, especially when key legislations are lined up for discussion.

Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal earlier said that the government is in the process of scrutinising all pending bills with departmental secretaries. “We will review pending legislation, compile the list of bills to be taken up, and share it with the Leader of the Opposition during the all-party meeting. Strategies will be formulated based on the suggestions received,” he said.

The Winter Session will run from December 1 to 19, with 15 sittings scheduled across 19 days. Private Members’ Bills will be taken up on December 5 and 19, while Private Members’ resolutions are slated for December 12. The government is expected to push several key legislations, including long-pending bills related to criminal law reforms, data protection adjustments, and sector-specific regulatory amendments that did not clear the monsoon session. The session may also take up financial legislations that require passage before the end of the calendar year.

Meanwhile, the Union Home Ministry on Sunday issued a clarification amid speculation over the inclusion of Chandigarh under Article 240 through the proposed Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2025. The Ministry clarified that the proposal intended to streamline the Centre’s law-making process for the Union Territory remains under consideration and that no final decision has been made.

The MHA emphasised that the proposal does not seek to alter Chandigarh’s governance model or administrative balance with Punjab and Haryana. It noted that any decision would be taken only after consultations with all stakeholders and reassured that no such Bill is planned for introduction in the upcoming Winter Session.

The government’s attempt to dispel concerns comes as political parties prepare for the all-party meeting, where legislative priorities and session management are expected to dominate discussions ahead of the short but potentially significant Winter Session.