BHOPAL: The opposition Congress has announced to constitute a bicameral legislature (having two houses) in Madhya Pradesh after it comes to power in the central Indian state, where it has been out of power since 2003.
The Congress manifesto Vachan-Patra released by the state Congress president and ex-union parliamentary affairs minister Kamal Nath in presence of senior party leaders on Saturday mentions about the resolve to constitute the Vidhan Parishad (Legislative Council) in the state. "We'll constitute the Vidhan Parishad in MP within a year from coming to power in the state," Nath told journalists.
Hitherto, MP only has 230-member strong Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly). Out of the 29 states in the country, only seven, including UP, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Bihar and Jammu & Kashmir presently have legislative councils. Further, the Parliament has also cleared the formation of Legislative Council in Rajasthan and Assam.
The Congress manifesto mentions that the formation of Vidhan Parishad will enable that those sections which cannot find representation in the Vidhan Sabha will get an opportunity in the Vidhan Parishad. The manifesto also mentions about the plan to start live telecast of the Vidhan Sabha proceedings.
The manifesto also promises to start Youth Parliament courses in schools and regularly organize Youth Parliaments in schools to enable the students to understand the legislative system and practices. Further, it mentions about instituting Awards for boosting research in the legislative/parliamentary system. Every year two brilliant researchers will be feted with Award carrying Rs two lakh and Rs one lakh prize.
It further mentions about making training in Vidhan Sabha a must for all officials in the state and making suitable amendments in Vidhan Sabha rules to start 'Janta Prahar,' a 30-minute slot where people can directly ask questions from ministers.
A Youth Parliament will be organized once every year for undergraduate and postgraduate students in the Vidhan Sabha. In a significant point, the manifesto mentions that members of Vidhan Sabha will lose the daily allowance every day the House proceedings are disrupted. Also, the details of movable/immovable assets of all MLAs and ministers will be tabled in the Vidhan Sabha annually and the details of MLA local area development fund spending of all MLAs will be uploaded on the State Assembly's official website.
Manifesto silent on total alcohol prohibition while the manifesto talks about Drug Addiction Free MP through harsh punishments to offenders and curb the misuse of opium farming in Mandsaur-Neemuch district, it has stopped short of mentioning about total alcohol ban. Instead, it mentions about going back to the policy of erstwhile Congress government where liquor vends in any area were shut down if more than 50% female residents demanded its closure. Importantly, MP has witnessed major movement, mostly by women against liquor shops operating in residential areas.