Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to inaugurate Bengal MLA orientation in Kolkata Friday
Synopsis
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will travel to Kolkata on 4 July to inaugurate a two-day PRIDE orientation for newly elected West Bengal MLAs — covering everything from budgetary procedures to the NeVA digital platform. With Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, and Governor R.N. Ravi all present, the programme carries unusual political weight for what is nominally a training exercise.
Key Takeaways
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will inaugurate the two-day orientation in Kolkata on 4 July .
The programme is organised by PRIDE , Lok Sabha Secretariat, in collaboration with the West Bengal Legislative Assembly .
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari , Union Minister Kiren Rijiju , and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh will attend the inaugural session.
Sessions will cover legislative procedures, committee systems, financial oversight, parliamentary privileges, and the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) .
The programme concludes on 5 July with a Valedictory Address by Governor R.N.
Ravi in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly chamber.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will inaugurate a two-day orientation programme for newly elected members of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly in Kolkata on 4 July, an official from the Lok Sabha Secretariat confirmed. The programme, designed to equip freshly elected Bengal legislators with core parliamentary skills, will be attended by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and other senior constitutional figures.
Who Is Organising the Programme
The event is being jointly organised by the Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE), under the Lok Sabha Secretariat, in collaboration with the West Bengal Legislative Assembly. PRIDE, the Lok Sabha Secretariat's dedicated training arm, has conducted similar orientation drives for newly elected state legislators across the country in recent years.
Key Dignitaries at the Inaugural Session
The inaugural session will be attended by Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh, and Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly Ritabrata Banerjee, among others. West Bengal Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose will deliver the Welcome Address, while Minister of Parliamentary Affairs of West Bengal Shankar Ghosh will offer the Vote of Thanks.
What the Sessions Will Cover
Across two days, legislators will attend technical sessions on a broad range of legislative topics, including 'How to be an Effective Legislator', 'Executive Accountability through Questions and other Procedural Devices in Legislatures', and 'Committee System in Indian Parliament'. Additional sessions will address the Legislative Process including Private Members' Bills, Financial Business and Budgetary Process in Parliament, Parliamentary Privileges and Ethics, and the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) — the Centre's flagship digital legislature initiative. The sessions will be chaired by presiding officers of state legislatures, Members of Parliament, constitutional experts, and senior parliamentary practitioners from across India.
Valedictory and Conclusion
The programme will conclude on Saturday, 5 July, with a Valedictory Address by Governor R.N. Ravi in the historic chamber of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly. Speaker Birla, Haryana Governor Ashim Kumar Ghosh, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh, and the West Bengal Assembly Speaker are also scheduled to address the closing session. The two-day format reflects a broader push by the Lok Sabha Secretariat to standardise legislative training across states, particularly after assembly elections bring in large cohorts of first-time legislators.
Point of View
But the attendance list here is anything but routine — a Speaker, a Union Minister, a Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman, and a Governor in one chamber signals that the Centre is using this training format as a soft-power moment in a politically sensitive state. West Bengal's assembly has historically been a flashpoint for procedural disputes and floor-management controversies; equipping its newly elected members with formal parliamentary training is overdue. The real test will be whether sessions on 'Executive Accountability through Questions' translate into a more assertive opposition and a more responsive treasury bench — or remain a ceremonial exercise.
NationPress
2 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PRIDE orientation programme for West Bengal MLAs?
It is a two-day training initiative organised by the Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE), under the Lok Sabha Secretariat, in collaboration with the West Bengal Legislative Assembly. The programme is designed to familiarise newly elected legislators with parliamentary procedures, committee systems, financial oversight, and digital tools such as the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA).
When and where will the orientation programme be held?
The programme will be held on 4 and 5 July in Kolkata, at the West Bengal Legislative Assembly. The inaugural session takes place on 4 July, and the valedictory session is scheduled for 5 July.
Who will attend the West Bengal MLA orientation programme?
Key attendees include Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh, and Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee. Governor R.N. Ravi will deliver the Valedictory Address on the concluding day.
What topics will be covered in the two-day sessions?
The sessions will cover how to be an effective legislator, executive accountability through parliamentary questions, the committee system, the legislative process including Private Members' Bills, financial and budgetary procedures, parliamentary privileges and ethics, and the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA).
Why is this orientation programme significant for West Bengal?
West Bengal recently elected a new cohort of legislators, and formal parliamentary training helps first-time members understand legislative norms, procedural tools, and digital governance systems. The high-profile attendance of central constitutional figures also underscores the national importance attached to strengthening democratic institutions at the state level.
