For the first time since the Narendra Modi Government returned in its 3.0 avatar, INDIA Bloc partners had a concrete common agenda in the form of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar to take on the PM and the ruling BJP-led NDA
The Monsoon Session of the Parliament ended on Thursday (August 21) with the same intensity it started on July 21, with disruptions in both the Houses over the contentious Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. Despite efforts by the BJP-led government, a united opposition did not cede even an inch on the SIR in poll-bound Bihar.
While the resignation of former Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on the very first day of the Monsoon session added to the shock and drama, the “pause” on Operation Sindoor, US President Donald Trump’s repeated assertions on ceasefire and the Election Commission of India’s SIR process kept the opposition united against the government, including in resistance over bills like the constitutional amendment Bill against “tainted” lawmakers and the Bill to ban online money games.
The month-long Monsoon session of Parliament witnessed repeated disruptions, adjournments and walkouts by the opposition.
Barring discussions on Operation Sindoor in both Houses, the session saw little business ever since it began on July 21 due to repeated disruptions and adjournments initially over the demand for discussion on Operation Sindoor and then over demands for a discussion on the SIR. In his valedictory address on the last day of the Session, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla expressed concern over the “lack of decorum and traditions” in the House and criticised the opposition for “planned disruptions” and “sloganeering.”
SIR unites INDIA Bloc
All through the session, the INDIA bloc kept the steam on against the government with protests against SIR, both inside and outside Parliament, accusing the ECI of “vote theft”.
Leaders across the opposition’ political spectrum—Congress, Samajwadi Party, TMC, DMK et al —berated the Treasury benches while the ruling side accused them of disrupting proceedings. For the first time since the Narendra Modi Government returned in its 3.0 avatar, INDIA Bloc partners had a concrete common agenda in the form of the SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar to take on the PM and the ruling BJP-led NDA.
United for VP elections
It is perhaps for the first time since Independence that India’s vice-presidential election is seeing a South-centric fight with both the ruling and opposition alliances fielding candidates from the region. The NDA nominated CP Radhakrishnan is from Tamil Nadu while the INDIA bloc’s candidate, former Supreme Court judge B Sudershan Reddy, is from Telangana.
While the BJP-led NDA has the requisite numbers, INDIA Bloc’s choice of candidate is reflective of the entire opposition coming together as one. For the INDIA bloc, Justice Reddy not only highlights the South’s growing parliamentary strength as symbol of narrative against the NDA
Common meeting point
The SIR provided a common meeting point to get the INDIA Bloc together despite differences, at times contradictory, on some issues.
Politically, this Monsoon session was an opportune moment for the opposition to target the Narendra Modi Government, there was a collective agreement against the way voters’ revision is being done in Bihar, say analysts.
For regional parties having substantial non-Hindu voters’ base like TMC, Samajwadi Party and DMK it was a matter of survival. Assembly elections are due in respective states, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu next year. ENDS
