NEW DELHI, Oct 3: In a recent reshuffling of parliamentary committees, Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan has opted out of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology, which is chaired by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey. Bachchan, who represents Uttar Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha, will now serve as a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour, Textiles, and Skill Development, led by former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavraj Bommai.
The change was officially confirmed through a bulletin issued by the Rajya Sabha Secretariat. Trinamool Congress leader Saket Gokhale has taken Bachchan’s place on the committee for Communications and Information Technology. Gokhale, previously a member of the Standing Committee on Labour, now joins a crucial parliamentary body focused on the ever-evolving IT and communications sector.
Other committee shifts include Rajya Sabha members A A Rahim (CPI-M) and R Girirajan, who moved from the Parliamentary Committee on External Affairs, chaired by Shashi Tharoor, to the panel on Housing and Urban Affairs. These changes reflect the ongoing reshuffling to ensure members are placed where their expertise can best contribute to the functioning of the committees.
In another development, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar nominated JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha and BJP MP Dhairyashil Patil to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Water Resources. Jha, who also chairs the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism, and Culture, now holds dual roles, reflecting his increasing responsibilities within the Rajya Sabha’s committee structure.
The reassignments highlight the evolving nature of parliamentary responsibilities as members take on roles across a diverse array of fields, from communications to water resources, labor, and housing. This reshuffle comes at a time when these sectors are critical to national policy development, especially in areas like labor reforms, IT infrastructure, and urban planning. The parliamentary standing committees play an essential role in scrutinizing government policies and ensuring accountability in these sectors, making these appointments all the more significant.
Bachchan’s move to the Labour, Textiles, and Skill Development committee underscores the growing importance of labor reforms and skill development, key areas that the government has prioritized to enhance employment opportunities and economic growth. Similarly, Gokhale’s transition to the IT and Communications committee places him at the forefront of discussions around digital transformation, cybersecurity, and telecommunications—a sector seeing rapid advancements and facing regulatory challenges.
The reshuffling of these parliamentary committees reflects a strategic alignment of expertise with policy areas critical to India’s development, ensuring that the legislative process benefits from diverse inputs and perspectives across the political spectrum. As the committees move forward with their work, these appointments will play a key role in shaping policy outcomes and ensuring that legislative scrutiny remains robust and effective.