By-poll overshadows assembly session in Chhattisgarh

Raipur, Nov 23 (UNI) The winter session of the Chhattisgarh Vidhan Sabha has been overshadowed by the by-election in Kota assembly constituency with the House adjourning sine die eight days ahead of its original schedule.

The session, which began on November 20 and was scheduled to conclude on December one, had been curtailed and just after four days of sitting, the House adjourned sine die.

In his concluding remarks, Speaker Prem Prakash Pandey said though 10 sittings were earlier proposed during the winter session, he had decided for a four-day session in view of the ''circumstances and with the consent of the House''.

During all the four days of sitting, attendence in opposition benches was thin as only a few Congress members, led by Leader of the Opposition Mahendra Karma and CLP Deputy Leader Bhupesh Baghel, were present in the House.

Majority of the 34 Congress legislators were not present in the House as they were reportedly busy in the campaign for by-election in Kota constituency from where Mrs Renu Jogi, wife of former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, is pitted against Mr Bhupendra Singh Thakur (BJP) in a 23-cornered contest.

Sources in ruling BJP told UNI that electioneering for Kota by-election, scheduled for December four, was expected to pick up in a couple of days and leaders, including ministers and legislators, would canvass support for the party candidate.

During the short winter session, the House passed the second supplementary demands of Rs 952.44 crore for 2006-07 and the related appropriation bill.

Besides, the house also passed the Chhattisgarh Vidhan Sabha Prevention of disqualification (Amendment) bill 2006 that relates to the 'office of profit'. Under its provisions, 90 posts have been included in the list and as such any elected representative holding any of these posts could continue to remain as a member of the House.

Similarly, the House also passed the Indian Stamps (Chhattisgarh Amendment) Bill.

On the first day, the House paid rich tributes to Shehnai maestro Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan and former state Assembly Speaker Rajendra Prasad Shukla, recalling their contribution in their respective fields.

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