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After the BJP’s staggering victory in the Lok Sabha election, the Opposition gathered for the first time on Tuesday to discuss its Parliamentary strategy, especially with regard to the all-party meeting convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday on the contentious proposal for “one nation, one election”.
Even before the Opposition meeting, the Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee excused herself from the PM’s meeting, arguing that the government should come out with a White Paper on one-nation-one-election before conducting any structured discussion on such an important issue. In a letter to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, the West Bengal Chief Minister said there should be no haste to push a “sensitive and serious issue” like one-nation-one-election — which requires participation and prolonged discussions with Constitutional and election experts besides political parties.
‘A sensitive issue’
She said instead of hurrying with the implementation, a White Paper should be brought out on the issue.
“Instead of hurrying, I would like to request you to kindly circulate a white paper on the subject to all political parties inviting their views by providing adequate time. If you do so, we would be able to give concrete suggestions on this important subject,” said Banerjee in her letter to the Parliamentary Affairs Minister.
Meanwhile, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi invited other Opposition parties for a strategy session on the ongoing Parliament session.
Earlier on Tuesday, top Congress leaders led by Sonia Gandhi and Congress President Rahul Gandhi met and decided on the party’s strategy for the session.
Sources said the meeting, chaired by Congress Parliamentary Party leader Sonia Gandhi and attended by Rahul Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, discussed the strategy to be adopted by the party during the meeting called by the Prime Minister.
Other factors
Other issues on the agenda in the PM’s meeting are development of “aspirational districts” and celebration of 75 years of India’s Independence and 150th Year of the Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
The all-party meeting is to be followed by a dinner thrown by the PM for the MPs.
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