Parliament Budget session to begin from Monday

New Delhi, Mar 11 (ANI): President Pratibha Devisingh Patil will address the joint sitting of the Parliament as the Budget session of Parliament commences on Monday.

Political experts have predicted rough weather ahead for the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) as it is going to face a tough challenge from the opposition on various issues including the recent ban on cotton exports, the alleged dilution of federal structure and National Counter Terrrorism Centre (NCTC) and many other issues.

The opposition will also take up the Lokpal Bill in both the houses as the bill failed to pass in the winter session in December last year.

Congress' allies like the Trinmool Congress (TMC) has publicly expressed its opposition on matters including the setting up of NCTC, hike in fuel prices, fertilizer subsidy and the financial constraints experienced by its government in West Bengal.

The first part of the session will conclude on March 30 and restart on April 24 after a three-week break.

The session is expected to conclude on May 22.

The Union Budget 2012-13 will be presented on Friday. While the Rail Budget will be presented on Wednesday, the Economic Survey outlining Government's assessment of the economy will be tabled on Thursday.

Due to the recently concluded assembly elections in five states, the budget session, which generally starts in the third week of February, is beginning on March 12 this year.

Meanwhile, BJP Parliamentary Party and NDA leaders, today, held a meeting to plan the strategy to take on the UPA government in the Budget session.

They are likely raise the issue of Lokpal Bill, price rise, corruption and Indian children in Norway, NCTC formation in the session.

The BJP also informed that it will discontinue its boycott of Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram in this session as there were serious matters like NCTC, National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Prevention of Unlawful Act would be take up in which it holds Chidambaram answerable to the house. (ANI)