Agartala, Sept 19:
The eighth session of the 13th Tripura Legislative Assembly began on Friday, opening a brief but important legislative window that will run until September 23. The session has been strategically curtailed in view of the upcoming Durga Puja festivities and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to the state on September 22.
With Speaker Biswa Bandhu Sen unwell, Deputy Speaker Ram Prasad Paul is presiding over the proceedings. The decision to shorten the session was finalized earlier this week during a Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting held at the Assembly conference hall. The meeting was attended by representatives from all major political parties, including Congress, CPI(M), and Tipra Motha.
The first day of the session opened with a Question & Answer round, setting the stage for key legislative business. Four important bills have been lined up for tabling: the Tripura State Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, the Tripura Jan Biswas (Amendment) Regulations Bill, The Factories (Second Amendment), 2025, and the Tripura Shops and Establishment (Seventh Amendment) Bill.
As previously announced, the Assembly will not convene on September 22 to accommodate the Prime Minister’s visit. Instead, the legislative business scheduled for that day will be taken up on September 23. The final day of the session will also include discussions on the newly introduced bills and a second round of Questions & Answers.
Despite being brief, the session is expected to cover significant legislative ground, particularly through the amendments targeting taxation, regulatory reforms, labor policies, and commercial establishments. Political observers note that the shortened schedule reflects a balancing act between legislative priorities, major religious festivities, and high-profile national events.