Parliament
Dealt a blow in Parliament’s last session by a united opposition, which defeated its ambitious bill to raise Lok Sabha’s strength and implement women’s quota from 2029, govt is looking to turn the tables on its rivals in the monsoon session, which will be held from July 20 to Aug 13.Speaker Om Birla is expected to announce his decision on the defection of 20 TMC MPs and 6 Sena UBT MPs before the start of session, with the rebels’ move to align with BJP-led NDA indicating a determined bid by the governing alliance to touch the two-thirds mark in LS to make a renewed push for passage of its Constitution amendment bill.
There should be discussion but no disruption: Om Birla
With frequent change of allegiance by lawmakers making critics question the anti-defection law, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla told reporters in Kolkata that it is for political parties to decide on whether changes are needed in the Act and noted that the issue was discussed in a speakers’ conference as well.With opposition parties, which have accused BJP of being behind the rebellion, expected to raise the heat in Parliament, Lok Sabha Speaker Birla said his only appeal to lawmakers would be that “there should be discussion but no disruption”.Political circles are also abuzz with a possibility of DMK reconsidering its opposition to the bill to amend Women’s Reservation Act as govt may tweak the proposed law’s provisions to mark its commitment to raise the strength of Lok Sabha members in every state by 50% and address the concerns of southern states over their losing political weight in Parliament because they succeeded in curbing population growth. In the previous session, the bill was supported by 298 MPs as against the required 352 in the House attended by 528 members.If Om Birla recognises the defection by the 26 MPs, and the 22 MPs of DMK, which has quit INDIA bloc after Congress backed the TVK govt in Tamil Nadu, support the bill, then NDA can have a shot at attaining a two-thirds majority, though it will require chipping away further at the opposition’s strength in the House.Another Constitution amendment bill that may be tabled in Parliament is govt’s proposal for automatic removal of Prime Ministers, chief ministers and ministers from office if they are in detention for 30 consecutive days on serious criminal charges, which has been slammed by the opposition as unconstitutional and aimed at state govts run by BJP’s rivals.A parliamentary committee scrutinising the bill is likely to finalise its report before the session begins.
