Lok Sabha session begins today

The last session of the 13th Lok Sabha, to begin today, is expected to be stormy with the NDA government pulling all the strings to ensure the smooth passage of the vote-on-account and pave the way for early general elections.

The Opposition has alleged the government of committing "constitutional impropriety".

The reconvened session will be held till February 5 to pass the vote-on-account (both railways and general) 2004-05, the Finance Bill 2004, and other exigencies of government business.

That the session will be stormy is evident from the letter written by Congress president Sonia Gandhi to President APJ Abdul Kalam, in which she has accused the government of committing "serious constitutional impropriety".

Congress spokesman S Jaipal Reddy reddy has said the Opposition will expose the "misdeeds" of the ruling coalition.

However, the government's main business includes the introduction of the vote-on-account (railways) on January 30 and the vote-on-account (general) on February 3 in the Lok Sabha. The vote-on-account will also have to be passed by the Rajya Sabha, which will meet a day later.

The Lok Sabha is expected to be adjourned tomorrow after condoling the death of sitting CPI member Bhan Singh Bhaura from Bhatinda in Punjab and two other former members

During the five-day sitting, three Bills will be taken up by the Lok Sabha. While a Bill to amend the Foreigners Act 1946 will be moved by Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani, another Bill to amend the Forward Contracts (regulation) Act, 1952 will be moved by Food Minister Sharad Yadav.

Law Minister Arun Jaitley will also move a Bill to repeal some old Acts.

The Lok Sabha will have the Question Hour only on February 4 and 5. The vote-on-account (general) will provide for government expenditure of various ministries for four months from April 1 for carrying out their activities till the presentation of a regular Budget by a new regime at the Centre.

There will be no fresh tax proposals in the vote-on-account.