Congress former president Rahul Gandhi is likely to be seen in action in Lok Sabha.
New Delhi
The Monsoon session of Parliament, which saw many disruptions over the Manipur violence issue, will be quite significant next week for both the government and the opposition. The BJP-led NDA government will get the Delhi Services Bill passed in Rajya Sabha, giving a jolt to the opposition bloc. On the other hand, Rahul Gandhi will be seen in action once again in Lok Sabha. The Gandhi scion is likely to attend the Lok Sabha after his conviction in a criminal defamation case over his “Modi surname” remark was put on hold by the Supreme Court on Friday.
Indications are that the government is unlikely to allow discussion on the Manipur violence issue in Parliament, as there will be a debate on the no-confidence motion over the next three days in the Houses. What proceedings will take place in the remaining one day in Parliament is uncertain. The session will conclude on 11 August.
The government looks confident to get the Delhi services bill passed in Rajya Sabha on Monday. The passage of the bill seems to be easy as parties such as the YSR Congress and the BJD are ready to support the legislation. Both parties have nine MPs each in the Upper House. The defeat of the Opposition will be a setback to Arvind Kejriwal’s party AAP. Political analysts say Kejriwal may join alliance with BRS after the setback in Rajya Sabha. Samajwadi Party may also join hands with the BRS. It will be an achievement for the BJP-led government if AAP and SP leave I.N.D.I.A.
Meanwhile, Congress is getting ready to project the Supreme Court’s order staying conviction of Rahul Gandhi in the defamation case as a big success. The chorus to project Rahul Gandhi as PM face is growing louder in the party. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has already voiced his demand to make Rahul a PM candidate. It will be interesting to see its political implications for the opposition alliance–I.N.D.I.A. The Congress wants Rahul Gandhi to speak on the no-confidence motion in Lok Sabha, as his speech would be a clear indicator about future political course. Rahul Gandhi will try to lead the Opposition from the front.
It will be interesting to see what reactions come from the parties in the Opposition alliance. Former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi had handled the matters related to Opposition in Bengaluru. But now the party is keen that Rahul Gandhi should take the charge. In view of the relief to Rahul Gandhi from the apex court, Congress strategists feel that the party is going in the right direction. They want Rahul Gandhi to be given a bigger leading role in the Opposition bloc.
After the monsoon session of Parliament, the grand old party may organise numerous programmes countrywide. Rahul Gandhi may start the second leg of Bharat Jodo Yatra from 2 October. He may cover the poll-bound states and major parts of the country. Congress will likely be projecting Rahul Gandhi as PM face for the 2024 parliamentary polls. The next week of the Parliament session will be quite significant from this point of view as well. While the grand old party was successful in keeping the Opposition united on the Manipur violence issue to a great extent, all eyes will be on whether Congress is able to keep the bloc intact even after the session concludes.
Significantly, the TMC, all of a sudden, took a different line on the discussion rule on Manipur. It agreed to discuss it under the rule other than 267. The government wants discussion under 176, while the Opposition is adamant on discussion under rule 267. That the Opposition alliance’s key partner TMC is taking a different line on the discussion rule is an achievement for the BJP-led central government.