Opposition fraternises at Sonia’s Iftar party

Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s Iftar party at Delhi’s Ashoka Hotel on Monday evening sets the tone for the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament, where the principal opposition party expects to put up a spirited performance.

The invitees list reflects an exercise in informal floor coordination. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not been extended an invite, nor are any other members of the ruling National Democratic Front.

However, all the prominent opposition leaders have been invited. So, while Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee is not expected to attend, her representative and party MP Derek O’Brien will duly participate in the Congress Iftar.

The Congress’s newfound friend from Bihar, the Janata Dal (United), will be out in full force. While JD(U) president Sharad Yadav was said to be a definite attendee, his party colleague and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar too flew in from Patna especially for the event.

The Left parties have been invited. Although CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury is not in town, party MP Mohammed Salim will be going in his stead. Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav too is sure to attend the function.

Floor coordination The Congress’s old ally and Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad, however, is not coming because of his engagement with a protest march in Patna on Monday.

According to an ANI report, Lalu insisted that there is no ‘political twist’ to his absence. “What is the issue here? It is nothing political. Iftar is a holy event,” he told the media in Patna.

Although the Congress played down the politics quotient in the Iftar party and its spokespersons refused to comment on the guest list, it was largely construed to be an exercise in informal floor coordination.

The party is out to step up the heat on revelations with regard to favours extended to fugitive businessman Lalit Modi by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje. Besides, a spate of suspicious deaths in connection with the Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh is almost certain to be raised in Parliament.

Together with controversial appointments in institutions of excellence such as the Film and Television Institute of India, the Indian Council for Historical Research, National Book Trust as well as the much debated IIM Bill, and protests with regard to alleged interference in the functioning of the IITs, the emergence of scams involving high-profile BJP ministers is enough to ensure that conducting business will be far from smooth in the monsoon session.

Land Bill Although there seems to be a consensus on issues such as the GST Bill, which may be the only important legislation to be passed in the upcoming session, there is no clarity on whether the government will push the controversial Land Acquisition Bill in the session.

The parliamentary committee examining the Bill has sought some more time but is still expected to submit its report latest by the second week of August.

If the government insists on pushing the Bill in the same session, that is one more reason for the Opposition to unite and rock the Parliament session.

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