The Budget session of Parliament begins today. It will commence with President Pratibha Devisingh Patil's customary address to the joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
The first part of the session will conclude on the 30th of this month and the second phase will start from the 24th of next month after a three-week recess during which Parliamentary Standing Committees deliberate on proposals of different ministries.
The session is expected to conclude on the 22nd of May.
The Union Budget 2012-13 will be presented on Friday, four days after Parliament begins its Budget session. While the Rail Budget will be presented on Wednesday, the Economic Survey outlining Government's assessment of the economy will be tabled on Thursday.
AIR correspondent reports, the budget session, which generally starts in the third week of February, has been delayed this time due to the Assembly elections in five states, including Uttar Pradesh. Ahead of the session, Congress has sought to reach out to allies by expressing readiness to walk the extra mile to strengthen coordination with them.
It has also given hints that it was open to the idea of forming a UPA Coordination Committee. Just after the assembly poll verdict, Congress president Sonia Gandhi has assured regular interaction with allies and expressed the hope that allies and the opposition will support the people-oriented measures.
Earlier yesterday, BJP Parliamentary Party and NDA floor leaders in both Houses of Parliament held separate meetings to discuss the strategy to take on the UPA government in the coming budget session on issues like price rise, corruption and Indian children in Norway, NCTC formation.
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