Parliament Winter Session to be Held from 15 December to 5 January

Congress alleged the BJP delayed the Parliament session so as to avoid backlash over GST ahead of Gujarat polls.

The Winter Session usually starts around mid to late November.

(Image: The Quint)

The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs announced that the winter session of the parliament will be held from 15 December to 5 January. The CCPA met to finalise the schedule and agenda of the winter session on 23 November.

Speaking to ANI, Ananth Kumar, Parliamentary Affairs Minister said:

This will be a 14-day session, 25 and 26 December will be Christmas holidays.

“I request political parties to cooperate and make the winter session successful and fruitful. We expect that we will have attendance on all 14 days, including the New Year’s day,” Kumar said.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said the opposition would raise important issues like the GST, demonetisation, J&K, terrorism, and 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed being set free by a Pakistani court.

The session was delayed due to the upcoming Gujarat elections, with BJP declaring that a delay had happened even during the time of the UPA government.

The session usually starts around mid to late November.

Congress has alleged that the government is delaying the session due to the backlash that the BJP might face from the Opposition over the GST which could “expose the party ahead of the Gujarat elections.”

(This story has been updated to reflect the confirmed dates of the Winter Session)