West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced in the first session of the newly formed 18th West Bengal Legislative Assembly that the proceedings of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly will soon be live so that the public can see debates, discussions and legislative decisions in real time.
Adhikari said people have a right to know what happens inside the Assembly and that live broadcasting would build public confidence in democratic institutions and would help people believe in democracy. The Assembly is to come to power to fulfill the wishes of the people and should work in accordance with the Constitution and parliamentary rules.
"We will move the Assembly forward, keeping the dignity of the Constitution in mind," the Chief Minister said, adding that transparency and accountability should still be at the heart of the functioning of the legislature. The move will bring West Bengal up to par with other state legislatures and Parliament, in which legislative proceedings are already being broadcast live.
The decision came just hours after BJP MLA Rathindra Bose was elected as Speaker of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly without any opposition. Bose became the first member of northern Bengal to hold the prestigious constitutional post.
Adhikari also highlighted the importance of a constructive and effective opposition in a healthy democracy. The government has a legislative majority, but the Assembly is for all elected members, so we should have a serious discussion on good governance rather than politics.
The decision to run live telecasts is part of a broader modernization drive in the Assembly. West Bengal is also about to embark on the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA), which is a digital platform to transform legislative processes from paper-based to paper-free. Assembly business (e.g., bills, notices, committee reports, and official documents) will be managed electronically and efficiently, which will reduce paper and administrative costs.
The combination of digital governance with live broadcasting will boost citizen engagement and enhance citizen participation. Citizens will be able to see discussions on a broad range of legislation, budget proposals, public welfare schemes, and policy debates without relying on media reports. The increased visibility is also expected to raise the bar for better accountability and transparency of lawmakers and democratic institutions.
At the same time, several legislators have argued that live telecasts have long been regarded as a way of educating citizens on parliamentary processes and helping them learn about parliamentary procedure, and can give people more information to provide an informed public discourse. Similar initiatives across India have been implemented to help people better understand the functioning of elected representatives and the legislative process. In this way, if we adopt this model, West Bengal can help the people of West Bengal build public confidence in their elected government.
The state government thinks that open debate in legislative sessions would help in informed civic engagement and build upon democratic values. Besides digitization initiatives and the transition toward a paperless Assembly, live telecasts are one more step to modernize governance and make institutions more accessible to the public.
As preparations start for the new broadcasting system, it will change the way people get involved in state politics. It is part of a movement that is more transparent, constitutional, and technology-driven and will make the legislative process more accessible, transparent, and accountable to every West Bengal citizen.
