Waqf controversy
The government had egg on its face when it tried to pass the controversial Wafq Board Amendment Bill, but had to send it to a JPC instead. Did its managers not do due diligence before introducing the amended bill? Apparently the government was pretty confident of its numbers despite the JD(U) being one of the first of NDA allies to voice its apprehension. Some claim that the government managers were of the view that any shortfall in numbers could be made up by Uddhav Thackeray, who could have voted in favour of the bill as it supports the Sena’s tilt towards Hindutva. But on the eve before the amended bill was introduced in Parliament, Uddhav Thackeray flew to Delhi and met Sonia Gandhi as well as Rahul Gandhi. They convinced him to vote along with the I.N.D.I.A bloc. Even then, the government would have managed to push the amendment through, but at the last minute the TDP backed out, indicating that while it would not openly oppose the bill, it would prefer if it was sent to the JPC instead. This was a move that was supported by the JD(U) and the LJP as well. Those who watch Parliament closely are all too aware that the JPC is just a gentler way of killing a bill.
When will the I.N.D.I.A Bloc Meet Again?
The I.N.D.I.A bloc has shown a great deal of coordination during the recently concluded Monsoon Session of Parliament. However the alliance is yet to hold a formal meeting post the 2024 Lok Sabha results. As the chairperson of the I.N.D.I.A bloc the onus is on Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to initiate the meeting. But he is probably waiting for the go-ahead from Rahul Gandhi before sending out the invites. There are crucial Assembly elections coming up in Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand. While a pre-poll alliance is in place in Maharashtra, it is not clear as to whether the Congress will back Uddhav as the CM face or whether it will want to project one of its own. While the central leadership may be in favour of promoting Uddhav keeping the large I.N.D.I.A bloc goal of unity in mind, state Congress leaders are not in favour of playing second fiddle to its allies.
Likewise for the ten bypolls that are due in Uttar Pradesh. Will Akhilesh Yadav cede half these seats to the Congress (as is the latter’s demand) or will he prefer to keep the bulk for the Samajwadi Party? Plus, the TMC’s position on the alliance remains ambivalent, though some individual TMC members have no problem in working in coordination with the Congress, Mamata Banerjee still remains wary. For instance, during the Shaheed Diwas rally organised by the TMC in West Bengal recently, she did not invite the Congress, though the affable SP chief Akhilesh Yadav was present on the dais with her. As they say, layers within layers.
Opposition vs RS Chairperson
This Parliament session saw the Opposition in a very strident mood as it took on not just the Speaker in the Lok Sabha but also the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. The issues varied but the underlying theme was the same—an allegation of bipartisan attitude that favoured the Treasury benches. It is clear that the Opposition is still smarting from the large-scale suspensions during the last Parliament that had it on the back foot. But now, with a renewed mandate in its favour, the Opposition is not giving an inch. That much is also clear during the debates that took place on the floor of the House that saw a rollback on the controversial indexation clause in the budget as well as the Waqf Board Amendment Bill being sent to a JPC. This is a far cry from the earlier two stints of the NDA government that saw most key decisions being passed without any discussions. The times as they say are a changin’.