UV disinfection, tech overhaul in Parliament plan

MINISTERS, FORMER PMS AND FLOOR LEADERS OF PARTIES WILL GET PREFERENCE IN THE MAIN CHAMBER, AND MANY MPS WILL BE SEATED IN GALLERIES

NEWDELHI: Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation in the air-conditioning system to kill or inactivate microorganisms, 10 display screens for showing live proceedings, and special communication cables linking both Houses — Parliament officials are leaving nothing to chance when the monsoon session gets underway amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ministers, former prime ministers and floor leaders of political parties will get preference in the main chamber, and many party MPS — even from the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) — will be seated in the galleries, according to a plan prepared by Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu, detailed in an official note. The same plan is likely to be used by the Lok Sabha too.

It is for the first time in the history of Parliament since 1952 that both chambers as well as the galleries of both Houses will be used to seat members. House authorities are pressing for a staggered shift of two Houses—with Lok Sabha starting in the morning and the Rajya Sabha in the afternoon as it will help in keeping the session short and MPS from outside Delhi will get to spend as little time in the Capital as possible. But some ministries prefer alternate days as it would be easier for them to cater to the demand of two Houses.

NEWDELHI/JAIPUR:CONGRESS

president Sonia Gandhi on Sunday named former Union minister Ajay Maken as the party’s general secretary incharge of Rajasthan in place of Avinash Pande, who was appointed to the post over three years ago.

Gandhi also named Maken, Rajya Sabha member Ahmed Patel and KC Venugopal as the three members of a panel the party has formed to look into issues raised by former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot and 18 Congress lawmakers, whose rebellion against chief minister Ashok Gehlot threatened the state government. The development came two days after the Congress government won a floor test in the House, bolstered by the return of Pilot and his supporters to the party fold after a tumultuous month. The Congress hopes the outcome has ended the month-long political crisis.