The CPI(M)-led Opposition on Wednesday staged a walkout at the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, to protest against the guillotining of 31 departmental Budgets. Guillotine is a Parliamentary parlance for clearing Budgets without discussion.

Of the 31 departmental Budgets cleared without discussions, nearly six departments are headed by the Chief Minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee, sources said.

Opposition members alleged discussions were required on the guillotined Budgets for hill affairs, minority affairs and land. All these departments are headed by the chief minister.

Second Guillotine

This incidentally, is the second time the Ms Mamata Banerjee-led Government has guillotined Budgets of key departments.

After coming to power in May 2011, the Government had guillotines Budgets of some departments that include the Home Department (headed by the Chief Minister); Health (headed by the Chief Minister); Family Welfare and Panchayat Affairs; and Panchayat Affairs department (now headed by Mr Subrata Mukherjee).

Calling it as a “guillotine of democracy,” the leader of the Opposition, Dr Suryakanta Mishra, alleged that the State Government was deliberately avoiding a discussion on vital departmental budgets.

With these departmental Budgets being passed without a discussion, the extended Budget session of the Assembly will come to a close on July 6.

The Assembly Speaker, Mr Biman Banerjee, has, however, not given any reason for move.

While the Trinamool camp remained silent on the issue, some political analysts feel that the move to conclude the session early may also be linked to the scheduled presidential poll campaign by Mr Pranab Mukherjee later during the month.

Though an UPA ally, the Trinamool has opposed Mr Mukherjee’s candidature and is yet to confirm its support to NDA nominee, Mr P. A. Sangma, either.

“Once the Assembly session is over the house is unlikely to have adequate audience to attend the campaign,” a political observer felt.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW