BHUBANESWAR: After issuing guidelines to the MPs and MLAs, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday asked the first-time legislators to concentrate on development in their constituencies instead of indulging in politics.
The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) organised a training camp for the first-time legislators here where senior party leaders, including Finance Minister Pradip Kumar Amat, Government chief whip Anant Das, former minister Amar Prasad Satpathy and several other senior leaders imparted training on different aspects of functioning of the Assembly.
Inaugurating the programme, Naveen said as elections are over, the MLAs should concentrate on development work in their constituencies. They should serve people by rising above party politics, he said and added that the MLAs should take all along without discrimination.
Naveen recalled that when he was elected from the Aska Lok Sabha seat for the first time in 1997, some advised him not to help those who voted for the rival political party. “I replied that since I have been elected as Aska MP, it is my duty to work for all,” he said.
Naveen said the MLAs should be careful in utilisation of MLA Local Area Development (MLALAD) funds and ensure that the funds are released on time for the benefit of common man. As youth form major support base of the BJD, MLAs should use social media to keep in touch with them, he said.
Advising them to maintain the decorum of the Assembly at any cost, the Chief Minister asked the MLAs to take part in debates and legislation. The MLAs have been asked to prepare a roadmap for their respective constituencies and become experts in particular subjects.
Since the party has made a number of promises to the people prior to the elections, the legislators have been asked to work hard towards implementation of the same. He also advised the partymen to keep in touch with the people to address their basic problems locally.
The one-day training camp focused on the conduct of the MLAs in the House which would help them in becoming good legislators, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh said.
The freshers were advised not to raise issues which could embarrass the party on the floor of the House and outside. Finance Minister Pradip Amat, who was the Speaker in the previous House, taught the first-time legislators on point of order, calling attention and adjournment motions, special mention, submission, short notice questions and other procedures while Satpathy deliberated on how to participate in bills.