Opposition parties walked out of an all-party meeting held ahead of Parliament's Monsoon Session, after the Centre invited a rebel faction of around 20 Trinamool Congress MPs to attend the talks alongside the mainline party's representatives.
What Kiren Rijiju Said Before The Meeting
Before the meeting got underway, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said the government was ready to listen to the Opposition's concerns and expected the same spirit of cooperation in return, as both sides sat down to finalise the agenda for the upcoming Monsoon Session.
Invite To Rebel TMC MPs Triggers The Walkout
The flashpoint came when the government's invite list for the all-party meeting included the rebel Trinamool Congress faction of about 20 MPs, separate from the party's official representation. Opposition leaders objected strongly, arguing that accommodating the rebel group inside the meeting reduced it to little more than a shelter for the breakaway lawmakers and amounted to a violation of democratic norms. In protest, Opposition parties staged a symbolic walkout from the proceedings.
Delimitation Bill Also Comes Under Fire
Separately, Samajwadi Party leader ST Hasan accused the Centre of trying to split Opposition votes through the Delimitation Bill in order to retain power, adding another layer of friction to an already tense build-up to the session.
What Happens Next
All-party meetings are traditionally held before every Parliament session to build consensus on the legislative agenda. With Opposition parties walking out over the rebel TMC invite and raising fresh objections over the Delimitation Bill, the Monsoon Session now looks set to open on a confrontational note.
