New Delhi: The Monsoon Session of Parliament is set to begin, sparking significant discussion among political parties. The session will run from July 20 to August 13. It promises to be a high-intensity session, as the Modi government at the Centre is expected to introduce several major bills.
Of particular note is the delimitation bill, which the central government may table in the House. Although the government had introduced this bill in the previous session, it failed to pass due to the lack of a two-thirds majority; this time, the government is strategising to ensure its passage.
Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Working President and Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule dismissed speculation on Wednesday that her party would support the proposed delimitation bill during the Monsoon Session.
Supriya Sule Dismisses Reports
Supriya Sule made a significant statement during a press conference in Mumbai, refuting reports suggesting an alliance with the NDA. She clarified that her party had neither received a proposal regarding the delimitation bill nor entered into any “deal” concerning it. The party would make a decision only after studying the bill in detail once its official draft is presented in Parliament.
She noted that the official stance would become clear within 24 hours, as no discussions on the matter have taken place so far. Sule referred to a report published in a prominent newspaper on Wednesday morning, which led various media outlets to claim that the Sharad Pawar faction was preparing to support the central government’s delimitation bill—a constitutional amendment. She stated that the report was based entirely on anonymous sources and that the party had never issued any such official statement.
Sule also held discussions with Sanjay Raut
Supriya Sule stated that to prevent any confusion among party workers and the allies of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, she consulted Sharad Pawar, Jayant Patil, State President Shashikant Shinde, as well as party MLAs and MPs before arriving here to clarify her position.
She also spoke with Congress State President Harshvardhan Sapkal, senior leader Satej Patil, and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, apprising them of the party’s actual situation.
Supriya Sule categorically dismissed speculations regarding NDA support for the delimitation bill. She stated that they had received no proposal from the NDA. “We are not going anywhere; we remain exactly where we were and continue to work for the people,” she said. She also addressed questions raised about Sharad Pawar sitting in Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s office during a recent visit to the legislative assembly.
Sule explained that since Sharad Pawar could not walk long distances, he had gone there and sat down; it was a gesture of courtesy on Eknath Shinde’s part to leave the cabinet meeting to welcome him and present him with a bouquet.
