The 14th Gujarat Legislative Assembly on Friday, the last day of its functioning, set a new record for the longest sitting on a single day. The day when the Assembly saw a walkout by the Opposition over the two bills related to higher punishment for water theft, it functioned for over 15 hours, with the working extending up to Saturday. It also broke the record for the longest discussion too.
The new record had both the ruling and Opposition MLAs congratulating each other after Speaker Rajendra Trivedi made the announcement. The members of the house celebrated the achievement by banging their desks.
"The last day of the fourth session was historic for the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, as its proceedings continued for more than the previous record time of 12 hours and nine minutes, breaking its January 6, 1993 record," an official release from the state said on Saturday.
Friday's proceedings commenced at 10 am and concluded at around 3.40 am on Saturday, clocking more than 15 hours of proceedings in a single-day factoring in the breaks taken by law-makers, it said. In all 17 bills were passed in the Assembly during the session of which 9 were passed in one day. Overall 6200 visitors came to the Assembly to see its functioning during the session.
Congratulating the MLAs and officials, Assembly Speaker Rajendra Trivedi said this was an indication of a strong and healthy democracy.
Interestingly, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel and Education Minister Bhupendra Singh were present in the Assembly when the earlier record was created too. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, however, was not present in the Assembly on Friday when the record was created.
The last record for the longest single-day sitting was created on January 6, 1993, when Chimanbhai Patel was the chief minister. Then the Assembly had functioned for 12 hours and eight minutes.
A NEW HIGH
Interestingly, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel and Education Minister Bhupendra Singh were present in the Assembly when the earlier record was created. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, however, was not present in the Assembly on Friday
