Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan at the all-party meeting to discuss the upcoming Winter Session. (Press Trust of India)
Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Saturday held an all-party meeting to ensure smooth functioning of Parliament during the Winter Session, which is set to begin on Monday.
The meeting was followed by dinner, which was also attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Briefing the media after the meeting, Ms Mahajan said 18 parties attended the meeting, barring Trinamool Congress, Shiv Sena and Samajwadi Party.
"All the parties who could not attend the meeting had informed in advance," she said.
The Speaker said that the parties demanded discussions on major issues, including black money, in the coming session.
"I am confident that the session will run smoothly with the help of all parties," she said.
Ms Mahajan also said the parties did not favour a proposal to shift the Question Hour in the Lok Sabha as has been done in the Rajya Sabha.
"Question Hour is as important as Zero Hour, it has to be decided unanimously. For the time being, same procedure would be followed," she said.
The Winter Session will begin on November 24 and end on emberDec 23. It will have 22 sittings.