Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari has recognised a group of 22 MPs belonging to smaller parties and certain Independents as a consolidated bloc — the United Group. With this recognition the United Group, will be the third largest group of MPs in the Rajya Sabha, after the Congress and the BJP.
This is only the third time in the history of Indian Parliament consolidated bloc has been recognised, the first was in 1983 and the second in 1990.
In 1983, the first such consolidated group was called United Associations of Members was recognised by the then Rajya Sabha Chairman M.Hidayatullah.
In 1990, the then chairman of Rajya Sabha recognised organised group of Parliamentarians and was renamed as the United Group.
What are benefits for consolidated bloc?
The newly recognised bloc will find a place in the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) that decides time allotment.
Thus, MPs of bloc will secure more time to speak in House debates.
At present, time allotted to parties to speak on debates depends entirely on their strength in the House.
Earlier due to their solitary or numerically lean status, members of this bloc had as little as three minutes of speech time.
Thus, a grouping of this kind will make it possible for a party like Sikkim Democratic Front with a single MP to speak for as much time as say, a Samajwadi Party with 19 MPs in Rajya Sabha.
Current Affairs 14th October, 2016 Current Affairs Round Up Bullet Points, September, 2016 Current Affairs Round Up Bullet Points, August, 2016
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