Legislators from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Saturday, 5 July 2025, praised the ongoing two-day orientation programme for newly elected members of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, calling it an overdue and essential step toward better legislative functioning. The programme, inaugurated on 3 July by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre in Kolkata, was organised by the Lok Sabha Secretariat to familiarise members of the 18th West Bengal Legislative Assembly with parliamentary procedures, legislative practices, and digital governance.

Cross-Party Welcome

In a rare show of bipartisan agreement, legislators from both the ruling TMC and the principal opposition BJP voiced support for the initiative. BJP MLA Bhaskar Bhattacharya said the programme equipped legislators with skills essential for effective Assembly functioning. 'It is a welcome initiative… When you get an opportunity to work for the people, it is important to learn how to function, how to speak, and how to conduct proceedings in the Assembly. Even if there are differences on both sides, the Assembly can function effectively with the right attitude,' he said.

TMC MLA Md. Akhruzzaman echoed the sentiment, noting that the sessions offered practical insights into the rights and responsibilities of elected representatives. 'It has been very good. The Speaker of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly explained what the privileges of an MLA are, the expected conduct of legislators and many other aspects with examples. It has been very informative for our MLAs. Such a programme should have been held earlier,' he said.

Senior MLAs Acknowledge the Gap

BJP MLA Rajesh Kumar noted that the programme addressed a long-standing gap in legislative training. 'For so many years, this remained only a matter of expectation. Even senior MLAs are saying that no such programme had ever been organised where they could learn how to contribute effectively as good legislators in the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly,' he said.

First-time BJP MLA Deepanjan Guha also welcomed the initiative. 'This is a very good initiative. Just like a worship utensil shines only when it is cleaned regularly, learning is also essential. We have become MLAs for the first time, and we still have a lot to learn,' he said.

Uttar Pradesh Speaker's Role

BJP MLA Laxmikant Sahu highlighted the value of having the Speaker of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly present at the sessions. 'His experience has been outstanding. We will apply what we learn from his experience in our lives and while serving as public representatives in our constituencies,' Sahu said. The UP Speaker's participation added inter-state legislative perspective to a programme that is being described as unprecedented for West Bengal.

A Political Footnote

On the sidelines, BJP MLA Roopa Ganguly called for the installation of a statue of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee in West Bengal, citing his role in ensuring the state's accession to India. The remark, while not directly related to the orientation programme, underscored the BJP's continued effort to reclaim political ground in the state through cultural and historical symbols.

What the Programme Covers

According to the Lok Sabha Secretariat, the two-day programme covers parliamentary procedures, legislative practices, and digital governance tools, with the goal of strengthening newly elected members' understanding of their roles as public representatives. The programme's cross-party reception signals that, at least on the question of legislative capacity-building, the deeply polarised Bengal Assembly may find common ground. Whether this translates into more productive Assembly sessions remains to be seen.