A Fiery Winter Session On Horizon As Opposition Increases Its Strength In Both Houses Of The Parliament

Opposition has increased its strength in Parliament as the 17th Lok Sabha readies to convene for the winter session, with the Shiv Sena walking out of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

The joint Opposition strength has crossed the 200-mark in Lok Sabha where there is no Leader of Opposition owing to the lack of the numbers required for this purpose in the Lower House.

The Shiv Sena has 18 MPs in the Lok Sabha and 3 MPs in the Rajya Sabha. The party has moved to the Opposition benches with a new political equation evolving in the state of Maharashtra where the Sena is in talks with the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) combine to form a government in the state which has been placed under President's rule.

Policy solutions to issues varying from the environment and pollution, the economy, the agricultural sector and farmers, and rights of women, youth and the less privileged sections of society will be debated. Leaders from all major political parties were present on the occasion when Modi discussed the upcoming session of the house.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (17 November) said that the government would work together with all political parties in a constructive manner to address pending legislation as well as to frame policy solutions for wide-ranging issues, at an all-party meeting ahead of the winter session of Parliament.

Modi observed the winter session of the Parliament will be a special occasion as it will mark the 250th session of the Rajya Sabha, soon after attending the meeting here on Sunday (17 November).

The Prime Minister emphasised that the 250th session of Rajya Sabha provided "a unique opportunity for highlighting the unique strengths of the Indian Parliament as well as the Indian Constitution, in providing an overarching framework of governance institutions for a diverse country like India."

The Opposition on Sunday (17 November) raked up the issue of the detention of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, who is a member of the Lok Sabha, during the all-party meet convened by the government, a day ahead of the Parliament session.

Farooq Abdullah is under detention along with two other former Chief Ministers Omar Abdullah and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti since the abrogation of Article 370 and the re-organisation of the state.

Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, said after the meet: "Farooq Abdullah should be allowed to attend the Parliament session as he is under detention for the past 3 months and, as per past precedents, jailed former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram should also be allowed to attend the proceedings".

Congress leader in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, asserted that the Opposition will be raising the issue of economic crisis during the winter session.

Regarding the NDA's former ally Shiv Sena, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi said: "Shiv Sena is working on a tie-up with the Congress as they have opted to sit in the Opposition. We have agreed to it and their Minister has also resigned from the government".

This session is expected to witness fiery exchanges. Modi, however has expressed hope that "constructive engagement" between the treasury and opposition benches will make the present session productive.

(With Inputs from IANS)