After holding two successive winter sessions of State Legislature in Mumbai, instead of Nagpur, now the budget session of the legislature is likely to be held in Nagpur in February 2022. However, the picture will become clear on Tuesday, the last day of ongoing winter session of State Legislature in Mumbai. Devendra Fadnavis, Leader of Opposition in State Legislative Assembly, had raised the issue of Nagpur being deprived of winter session of Maharashtra Legislature for two consecutive years. He raised the issue when the matter of increasing in the allowances of staffers engaged in winter session came up for discussion through a starred question on Monday during the ongoing winter session in Mumbai. “When will the session of State Legislature be held in Nagpur?” he asked. Ajit Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister, replied to the discussion.

 

In his reply, Pawar said, “Winter session was held at Mumbai instead of Nagpur for past two successive years due to COVID-19 situation. However, the decision regarding holding the budget session at Nagpur will be taken in co-ordination with Business Advisory Committee.” Further, to the question regarding allowances to staffers engaged in winter session at Nagpur, Pawar said that the allowances would not be given as the Government made all the arrangements regarding stay of staffers. Still, he said, information would be sought and the Government Resolution regarding the decision would be changed, if required. The ongoing winter session will be prorogued on Tuesday. At the time of prorogation of the winter session, date and venue for the next session -- which will be budget session -- are announced. The budget session is expected to commence towards the end of February 2022. Pawar’s statement on Monday raised hopes about holding the winter session of State Legislature in Nagpur in February 2022. Meanwhile, as per the reports reaching here, the State Cabinet reportedly gave its nod to holding budget session in Nagpur from February 28, 2022. The Cabinet decision would be conveyed to the State Legislature. An announcement regarding the session at Nagpur is likely to be made on Tuesday.

 

Thus, the picture regarding the conduct of budget session at Nagpur in February 2022 will become clear on Tuesday. Citing COVID-19 pandemic, winter session of State Legislature was not held at Nagpur last year and the current year. As per the Nagpur Pact, at least one session of State Legislature is to be held in Nagpur (Vidarbha). Nagpur enjoys the status of Second Capital of Maharashtra. However, in 2020 and 2021 both, despite COVID-19 cases under control and preparations for hosting winter session in progress, the Government took decision to hold the winter session in Mumbai. As such, there is demand for holding all-important budget session in Nagpur to offer some solace and honour the Nagpur Pact.