NEW DELHI — Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the Rajya Sabha in bidding farewell to 59 members whose terms are set to conclude in April and July 2024. During the session on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, the Prime Minister lauded the contributions of the retiring lawmakers, including Deputy Chairman Harivansh, and urged them to remain active in public life.
Prominent Departures and House Discourse
The group of retiring members includes several veteran political figures from across the spectrum:
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Key Leaders: Deputy Chairman Harivansh, former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, and Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge were among those recognized for their service.
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Opposition Voices: MPs Digvijaya Singh and Priyanka Chaturvedi, who have not been renominated, used their farewell remarks to address national issues, including communal harmony and the need for smoother parliamentary functioning.
Legislative and Budgetary Updates
Parallel to the farewell, both Houses of Parliament addressed critical policy and administrative matters:
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Agriculture Boost: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan informed the Lok Sabha that the sector received a 2.6% increase in the Union Budget, amounting to an additional ₹3,000 crore over the previous year.
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Simultaneous Polls: The Lok Sabha granted an extension to the parliamentary committee examining Bills for simultaneous elections (One Nation, One Election), with the report now expected by the Monsoon session.
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Schedule Adjustment: In observance of Gudi Padwa and Eid on March 19–20, Parliament will remain in recess and instead function on March 29–30.
Opposition Critique
Opposition MPs, including Charanjit Singh Channi and Jai Parkash, challenged the government’s agricultural claims. They raised concerns regarding food security, the effectiveness of crop insurance, and the slow progress in doubling farmers’ income.
