MP Assembly adjourned sine die after passing budget for 2023-24

The Madhya Pradesh Assembly was on Tuesday adjourned sine die ahead of schedule after the House passed the state budget for 2023-24 with a voice vote amid a walkout by the Congress over the government not holding a discussion on department-wise demands for grants and Legislative Affairs Minister Narottam Mishra moving a proposal to apply the guillotine.The last sitting of the House was scheduled on March 27 with holidays in between.Normally, after a discussion, voting is held during the budget session.

The Madhya Pradesh Assembly was on Tuesday adjourned sine die ahead of schedule after the House passed the state budget for 2023-24 with a voice vote amid a walkout by the Congress over the government not holding a discussion on department-wise demands for grants and Legislative Affairs Minister Narottam Mishra moving a proposal to apply the ''guillotine''.

The last sitting of the House was scheduled on March 27 with holidays in between.

Normally, after a discussion, voting is held during the budget session. If in case there is no time for discussion, then the state moves a proposal to apply the guillotine legislative method under which all department-wise demands for grants or proposals are passed without any debate in the House, an expert explained.

The Speaker applies guillotine which allows demands for grants to be put to vote at once, whether they have been discussed or not.

The guillotine proposal was moved by the legislative affairs minister citing paucity of time, but it invited opposition from the Congress. Leader of Opposition Dr Govind Singh said they were against the proposal of guillotine and he and other Congress MLAs staged a walkout in protest.

Later, Finance Minister Jagdish Devda presented the department-wise demands for grants and the budget for 2023-24 was passed by the Assembly with a voice vote.

Earlier, a no-confidence motion moved by the Congress against Speaker Girish Gautam, after party MLA Jitu Patwari was suspended for creating a ruckus during the budget session, was rejected by the Assembly.

Legislative Affairs Minister Mishra said as per rules a no-confidence motion cannot be moved against the Speaker or the Deputy Speaker, and only a resolution can be submitted against them.

Since only one day of the budget session was left and the last sitting was scheduled on March 27 because of holidays in between, Mishra moved a proposal, stating the Assembly can be adjourned sine die as all listed business has been completed.

The Speaker then adjourned the House sine die.