New Delhi: The Monsoon Session of Parliament is fast approaching. Set to begin on the 20th, the session promises to be a high-intensity affair. It is widely believed that the central government may once again introduce the Women’s Reservation Bill and the Delimitation Bill aimed at increasing the number of Lok Sabha seats.
Passing the Delimitation Bill in both Houses of Parliament requires a two-thirds majority; without it, the government’s bill would fail. The NDA government had introduced this bill in the previous session, but it fell through due to a lack of the requisite majority. This time, however, the BJP is actively working to secure the necessary numbers. The government has initiated a ‘Mission 36’ to achieve this goal. The question remains: will the Modi government manage to outmanoeuvre the opposition during this Monsoon Session?
Fractures in TMC and Uddhav’s Party
The central government appears to be just shy of the two-thirds majority mark in Parliament. Rebellions have occurred within Mamata Banerjee’s TMC and Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena. Meanwhile, the stance of veteran Maharashtra leader Sharad Pawar’s party also appears to be shifting. Considering these developments, it seems likely that the BJP could reach the two-thirds majority threshold.
According to a report, the NDA is still six seats short of the target and needs to rally six additional MPs. In light of this, the Modi government has convened an all-party meeting on July 19, the day before the Monsoon Session begins,s to garner support from all political parties for the Delimitation Bill.
Deliberations Within the BJP
Political deliberations have also commenced within the BJP ahead of the Monsoon Session. A series of meetings is underway within the party as the session approaches. Over the past week, the BJP leadership has held several crucial meetings, the most significant of which took place at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence.
Attendees included BJP National President Nitin Navin, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and General Secretary Organisation) B.L. Santhosh. According to sources, the primary objective of these meetings is to formulate a strategy for the Monsoon Session. According to sources, extensive discussions have been underway within the organisation over the past few days regarding the new national team. Names of potential office-bearers from various states have been sought.
Government Strengthened for the Session
The central government appears to be in a very strong position regarding its numerical strength for the monsoon session. The Modi government is likely to move forward on several issues. The government maintains that, given the current political climate, it is in a stronger position than before, while the opposition appears relatively weak. According to sources, the stance of certain regional parties could also prove crucial for the government.
