First session of Parliament to start from June 1

New Delhi: Quickly getting down to business a day after being sworn in, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh presided over the first meeting of his Cabinet on Saturday, which decided to convene the first session of the 15th Lok Sabha from June 1 to 9.

The Cabinet decided a timetable for Parliament session, which will have seven sittings, Union Minister P Chidambaram told reporters in New Delhi.

Indicating the government's eagerness to get on with its work, Singh told the Cabinet meeting that the UPA has made a number of promises to the people and "we have promises to keep", Chidambaram quoted the Prime Minister as saying.

Addressing the media, Chidambaram said, "In the meeting presided over by the Prime Minister, it has been decided that a one-week session of the new Lok Sabha will be convened to meet on June 1 and the Speaker will be elected on June 3."

He also added that the President will address new Parliament on June 4.

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"It has been decided in the meeting that June 8 and 9 have been kept for Motion of Thanks to the President," he said.

As per the schedule finalised, the first two days will be earmarked for the newly elected members to take oath. The Speaker's election will take place on June 3 and President Pratibha Patil will address the joint sitting of both Houses on June 4.

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Discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President will be taken up on June 5, 8 and 9. Chidambaram said the Rajya Sabha will also commence its session on June four.

The government would soon recommend to the President to convene the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha sessions, he said.

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After a short break, the next session will be convened to pass the budget, he added. He also hoped that the government could pass the first full Budget before July 31, 2009.

(With PTI inputs)