An invitation extended to a breakaway group of Trinamool Congress lawmakers turned an otherwise routine all-party meeting, called ahead of Parliament's Monsoon Session, into a brief flashpoint, with opposition parties staging a walkout before returning to the table a short while later.
Why the Opposition Walked Out
The trouble began when the government invited representatives of NCPI, a group formed by rebel Trinamool Congress MPs, to sit alongside other recognised parties at the meeting. Opposition MPs argued that inviting NCPI violated democratic norms, since the lawmakers in question were originally elected on Trinamool Congress tickets. Mahua Moitra criticised the government over the move, after which several opposition parties staged a symbolic walkout in protest before returning to the meeting.
NCPI Hits Back
NCPI pushed back on the opposition's walkout. Its leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay said the outfit has been recognised by the Election Commission and therefore had every right to be present at the meeting. NCPI also issued a notice concerning the merger of MPs into the party, a move likely to keep the dispute over the rebel group's status alive heading into the Monsoon Session.
A Separate Merger Question for Shiv Sena
Alongside the NCPI row, Shrikant Shinde said the Speaker would decide on the technical aspects of merging six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs into Shiv Sena, an unrelated procedural matter that is also expected to come up once Parliament convenes.
Rijiju's Appeal for Cooperation
Ahead of the meeting, Kiren Rijiju struck a conciliatory note, saying the government was ready to hear out the opposition's concerns but expected the same spirit of cooperation in return during the Monsoon Session.
An Allegation Over the Delimitation Bill
The meeting also became a platform for other grievances. Samajwadi Party leader ST Hasan alleged that the Centre wants to split opposition votes through the Delimitation Bill to retain power, signalling that the bill could turn into a flashpoint once Parliament sits.
Ram Mandir Trust Controversy Adds to the Heat
Separately, Kharge and Rahul Gandhi wrote to Prime Minister Modi demanding an independent probe into the "financial affairs" of the Ram Mandir Trust, telling him "your silence unacceptable". Responding to the allegations, Ram Mandir Trust member Dinendra Das Maharaj said "rituals performed on time, no shortage in number of devotees", pushing back on any suggestion that something was amiss at the temple.
What Lies Ahead
With the NCPI dispute, the Delimitation Bill allegation and the Ram Mandir Trust row all surfacing on the same day, a stormy Monsoon Session appears likely once Parliament convenes.
