Cong — few and friendless in Lok Sabha

Yet to recover from the shock of a massive defeat in the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress is finding it difficult to garner support for its various ventures in Parliament.

Even as the NDA Government seems to have made up its mind to not relent to the Congress’ demand for the post of Leader of Opposition, the Congress appears to struggle to make its point on almost all issues.

These include the TRAI (Amendment) Bill, discussions on price rise, the amendment to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act and the Union Budget.

Even UPA partners, such as the NCP and the RJD, have been taking decisions independently in Parliament. The other parties in the Opposition, the AIADMK, the BJD and the Left, are apprehensive about any cooperation with the Congress.

The CPI(M) said the Congress is yet to reconcile to the fact that its policies are the main reasons for its defeat.

“Look at the way the Congress reacted to the Budget. There was no cohesion in the statements of the senior leaders of the party. Former ministers are still defending what they did in the Government. Their performance as an Opposition party has been lacklustre,” CPI(M) leader P Karunakaran said.

He added that despite a bitter defeat the Left parties could still find a space to attack the Centre on policies.

“Congress leaders are struggling for a reply when the present Narendra Modi Government says it is merely following the UPA’s polcies,” Karunakaran said.

The BJD also expressed similar views. “The Congress can never become an effective Opposition. They have proved it in history. Their role as Opposition was a failure in 1989 and in 1998. This time too, they have not been able to do any thing as an Opposition party.

“Forget about coordination with other Opposition parties, they are unable to manage their own members and allies in Parliament,” said BJD leader Bhartruhari Mahtab.

What ails the Congress, obviously, in the number crunch.

State of shock The decision of the party’s First Family to not take any decisive role in Parliament, its inability to find a common line on the policies of the new Government and growing dissent among leaders and cadre at various levels are upsetting the performance of the Congress.

“We are still in a state of shock. It will take some time for us to recover. We are expecting a thorough overhaul at every level of organisation,” said a senior Congress leader.

The AK Antony committee, which is studying the reasons for the part’s defeat, is expected to submit its report by the end of this month.

The panel, which has already met about 400 Congress leaders, is likely to suggest that the party imbibe a new set of principle in politics and polices.

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