#18thLokSabha : Prime Minister Narendra Modi Faces A Challenge To Run Coalition Against Rejuvenated Congress Led Strong Opposition

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins his historic third term in office with NDA 3.0 with allies holding the key to his government’s future the focus shifts to the Parliament session beginning on June 24 and will continue till July 3 .The oath-taking ceremony of new MPs and the election of the Speaker will be held during the session.

The BJP had won comfortable majority in both 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls  and  hence  them not getting the majority despite the clarion call abki baar 400 paar  came a as rude shock .  And BJP to retain power  in 2024  ensured  the rebirth of the   of the forgotten NDA  under  stalwarts former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L  K Advani and the heydays of George Fernandes who was the convenor / rather trouble shooter during the  Vajpayee era.  Vajpayee – served three terms as the 10th Prime Minister of India, first for a term of 13 days in 1996, then for a period of 13 months from 1998 to 1999, followed by a full term from 1999 to 2004

And coming on board the NDA 3.0 in the new avatar were two parties  namely –  First,  TDP who had been in and out of the NDA numerous times   ( Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu) 16 seats  , and second JD( U) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ( 12 Seats). Other key allies include – LJP of Chirag Paswan  ( 5 seats) , Shiv Sena of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde 7  seats . In coalition politics  these numbers rather every number counts.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi  who used the brute majority in 2014 and 2019 to push things around in a flash will  not have an easy way this time around.  He has take everyone along  as  he will come up against a  rejuvenated  Congress  and other opposition parties who surprised many political pundits with their showing –  Akhilesh Yadav seems to have come out his father Mulayam’ shadow and his party  SP emerged as the giant killer in Uttar Pradesh .  SP shocked   BJP and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath despite the Ram Temple euphoria . Even Congress staging a return in Uttar Pradesh  meant a nightmare for BJP  . Rahul Gandhi winning from Rae Bareli ( earlier represented by mother Sonia Gandhi), little know Kishori Lal Sharma  demolished arrogance and ego of Smriti Irani ( silence over Brij Bhushan,  Bilkis Bano case, Manipur, women’s wrestler’s protests and when they were  dragged on streets by Delhi Police proved fatal). Despite numerous interviews to Godi media anchors on Super Prime time, Irani lost Amethi and eventually ministership.

The combative West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee despite Godi media’s onslaught over Sandeshkhali showed that she is  the ‘Didi’ that Bengal trusts.  Her party TMC has now impressive 29 MP’s  and among them is the aggressive Mahua Moitra. Who is back with a bang after been suspended . So get ready for fire- works in parliament.

The wily Maratha Stalwart Sharad Pawar  ensured the MVA alliance in Maharashtra ( NCP (SP), Shiv Sena ( UBT) Uddhav Thackeray and Congress  humble BJP , Shiv Sena ( Eknath Shinde) Ajit Pawar ( NCP) and most important brought down the ego and brazen boast by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis  ( who claimed he broke both the Shiv Sena and the NCP) . Fadnavis post – poll insisted on stepping down and return to party organisation but Amit Shah and RRS asked him to continue . With Maharashtra polls slated later this year. BJP faces an acid test. MVA is ready for the battle – bring it on.  And complimenting the fine opposition show was the DMK in Tamil Nadu under dynamic Chief Minister M K Stalin which bagged in alliance with Congress all 39 seats .  So for  Modi government the coming parliament will not be easy cake walk.

And the government  has it’s hand full too with host of issues that will be raised in parliament  – NEET exam furore, Agniveer Scheme, The three new criminal Laws which were passed by parliament without any debate. Increasing rise in Terror activities in J&K amidst Centre’s tall claims of normalcy . It has to by SC order decide when to hold  assembly polls . SC had fixed September deadline. There are assembly polls in Haryana, Jharkhand and Maharashtra . Manipur continues to remain tense with violent clashes.

Knowing well the opposition numbers  this time around  and coalition  era,  the new parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju has started reaching out to the opposition to ensure a sooth parliament session . He met Congress president M Mallikarjun Kharge , who is also the leader of the opposition the Rajya Sabha  . Rijiju, in his social media post, said that he had a “pleasant” meeting with the opposition leader, who shared many experiences of his own life. “I had a pleasant courtesy meeting with Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Congress Party President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge ji. He shared with me about many valuable experiences of his life. Together, we all will work for the nation,” he said on X.

And later in another post when Kerala Congress mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent meeting with Pope in Italy , Rijiju took to X and wrote, We all are political opponents, not enemies. Let’s not hate each other. It is in bad taste to insult Supreme Pontiff (The Pope)

As Parliament D- Day nears , Kiren Rijiju has reportedly asserted that he will make all efforts to take everyone along to ensure smooth functioning of Parliament, and said there was no need to pull each other down on the basis of numerical strength.  “We need not pull each other down on the basis of numerical strength. People use muscle power outside Parliament, but inside the House, we should use vocal power for good debate,” the four-term Lok Sabha member from Arunachal Pradesh said. Rijiju appealed to all political parties to contribute to uphold the dignity of Parliament. “I have come here with a positive note. We will make every effort to take everyone along and run Parliament,” Rijiju reportedly said.

The 17th Lok Sabha saw 146 opposition MP’s suspended hence once sincerely hopes that the new Lok Sabha i.e 18th begins on positive note and sanity prevails in the political discourse after a bitter election campaign.   Given parliament’s  recent record of  interruptions and  snubbing opposition’s  demand. One is hence keeping fingers crossed .