No Longer Kaun Rahul ? LOP Rahul Rahul Gandhi shakes hand with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla While Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kiren Rijiju Look on.
If the first session the 18th Lok Sabha is anything to go by then the stage is now firmly set for yet another government versus Opposition slug fest. This time with the commencement of the monsoon session off parliament from July 22- August 12 .
For NDA 3.0 and third term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it is crucial as it is the session Of the Union Budget to be presented on July 23 by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
The government which is now a coalition will have tough time as the Opposition is set to corner the government on host of issues . Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in his maiden address in parliament in the first session has made it clear – questions will be asked on the government and and no backing out. Godi media’s Kaul Rahul had stunned political pundits by becoming LOP and winning from two seats Rae Bareli ( Retained) while letting go Wayanad for sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to represent in the near future by contesting and making her political debut. Rahul had promised that he would raise the students issue like NEET and Manipur with force in parliament. Be it his p[arty the congress or the INDIA Alliance.
The INDIA alliance will come in the session boosted by the superb show in the assembly by- polls across seven states with them winning 10/ 13 and BJP decimated with 2 seats.
The government too is besieged with with host of pressing issues like the NEET – UG Exam Paper leak issue, jobs scenario and the unending and alarming situation in Manipur. A state ravaged by Kuki , Meitei clashes. And LOP Rahul Gandhi visiting the state while Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaving for Russia and Austria the very day the Gandhi scion was in Manipur will give the Opposition ample ammo to target the government .
The continuous terror strikes in Jammu and the killing of army jawans . The spurt in terror strikes in J&K has brought to the fore rather exposed Centre’s tall claims no terror attacks post Article 370 removal on August 2019. The recent terror strikes now cast a shadow or for the matter Centre’s bold promise of holding elections in the state and the promise of statehood. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his several visits to the Union Territories while inaugurating slew of developmental projects had reiterated his promise of state having its own Chief Minister.
But the recent MHA notification empowering the LG in J&K with more powers has made the mainstream political parties in J&K like the National Conference , PDP as well as the Congress wary about the Centre’s intentions. These parties have questioned how much power will the CM if elected to office will have given the powers wresting in the hands of LG.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will have to come clean on the future of the controversial Agniveer Scheme that has come under fire off late . The mother of Capt. Anshuman Singh, who died while saving his colleagues from a fire at an army ammunition dump at Siachen in July last year, has urged the Narendra Modi government to scrap the Agniveer scheme “immediately”.
Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is set to face the heat from the Opposition following spate of accidents in Railways .
The continued detention of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is expected to raised by AA as well as the INDIA bloc.
The government to settle scores with the Opposition will raise the Law and order in West Bengal, the minority appeasement by TMC . The Kannadiga reservation by Congress government and hints of scam in Karnataka . The Liquor tragedy in Tamil Nadu, and the appointment of foreign secretary by Kerala government is expected to raise the political temperatures.
BJP is likely to keep the attack on AAP regarding corruption citing the Delhi Liquor scam and the alleged Kejriwal Links. But government’s use of agencies like CBI, ED , IT only against rivals will be used by Opposition to get back at government.
Modi 3. 0 moreover banks on the support of key allies- TDP , JD(U) . Both The Chief Ministers N Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar had made their wishes very clear to the government . Nitish has reiterated his special status demand while Naidu has sought special assistance for Andhra Pradesh and had met Amit Shah and Nirmala Sitharaman regarding his demand. This scenario is different for Modi as in 2014 and 2019 BJP had brute majority and could say in Budget was final. This time it is not the case. How the FM reacts or gives in to the demands of the two CM’s remains to be seen.
Heading into the session the BJP and the government is likely to face the heat over the controversial Muzaffarnagar police advisory to eateries to display owners’ names along the routes of the Kanwar Yatra. Already BJP ally and Union Minister Chirag Paswan LJP( Ram Vilas) has expressed his unhappiness over the move and and said he does not support such action . So BJP / NDA 3.0 will have to tread carefully.
Adding to BJP’s woes is now the new turn by BJD of former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. BJD had has now decided not to support BJP and instead become a tough Opposition. The fact that BJD toed the INDIA alliance stance during Rajya Sabha protest in the first session indicates dramatic change in political equation in Odisha.
Lastly, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee had the house in splits in the first session with his witty take on BJP Abki baar 400 paar slogan and smart looking jibe at Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla . Who will be this time only time will tell. One thing is clear NDA 3.0 has its task cut out with a rejuvenated and strong Opposition.
