New Delhi: The Monsoon session of Parliament, remembered more for uproar than productivity, brought a fresh sense of unity to the INDIA alliance under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi. Yet, the first real test of this opposition solidarity will come in the upcoming election of the Vice President, followed by the Bihar polls, which may ultimately determine whether Rahul Gandhi’s leadership is fully accepted.
The Congress faces a formidable challenge as the NDA remains strong and united under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In this session, the government too showcased its cohesion—whether during the debate on Operation Sindoor or the nomination of C.P. Radhakrishnan for Vice President, allies stood firmly together.
In terms of legislative work, however, the session proved disappointing. The opposition disrupted proceedings by pressing for a debate on the controversial SIR matter related to Bihar’s voter list. Out of 120 scheduled hours for both Houses, the Lok Sabha worked for 37 hours while the Rajya Sabha managed just 41 hours and 15 minutes. Excluding Operation Sindoor discussions, most of the session was dominated by uproar.
Despite disruptions, 14 bills were introduced in the Lok Sabha, 12 of which were passed. The Monsoon session opened with drama as Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from the Vice President’s post, giving the opposition an early chance to attack. Congress seized the opportunity, consolidating opposition forces. Meetings and dinners of the INDIA alliance under Rahul Gandhi followed, with even the Aam Aadmi Party, previously estranged, rejoining ranks. Rahul sharpened the SIR issue further with allegations of “vote theft.” The opposition, emboldened, appeared united both inside Parliament and on the streets, a significant morale boost for the Congress.
Still, the unity challenge remains far from over. The Vice President’s election and the state polls that follow will reveal whether this alliance holds. In Bihar, Rahul Gandhi and RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav have campaigned together, drawing crowds, though translating this into votes remains uncertain. Meanwhile, BJP and JDU have demonstrated their own unity, leaving no easy openings for the opposition.
The government used the Monsoon session to play deft politics. Operation Sindoor sharpened nationalist sentiment, which the BJP is already amplifying in its campaigns. While Congress tried to highlight the American tariff issue, its allies’ lack of support forced silence. The government not only secured passage of several bills but also pushed through a significant amendment requiring any convicted PM, CM, or Minister to resign within a month. Though the opposition protested vigorously, the BJP is projecting this as a major achievement. Prime Minister Modi has already used this law in public meetings in Bihar and West Bengal to attack the opposition.
As the session closes, Congress faces mounting hurdles. The first test will be the Vice President election. NDA appears solid, with TDP leader and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu reaffirming support, along with JDU and other allies. Still, chances of cross-voting loom within the opposition ranks, with uncertainty surrounding DMK, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena, AAP, and even TMC. Dissent simmers within Congress itself, some of which surfaced during Operation Sindoor.
Since the Vice President election uses secret ballots without party whips, the NDA strategists are working to secure an even larger margin of victory. There is little doubt about C.P. Radhakrishnan’s win, but the interest lies in whether the NDA can repeat its past success in drawing away opposition votes. Afterward, the AAP may once again part ways with the INDIA alliance in Bihar, further weakening the opposition’s position.
If BJP and JDU triumph in Bihar, Congress’s troubles will multiply, and the INDIA alliance’s unity may fracture further. The looming Bengal and Kerala elections next year, where alliance partners will compete against one another, only add to the uncertainties ahead.
