Joint Protest Before Monsoon Session
A united Opposition staged a walkout from the all-party meeting held ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament on Sunday, objecting to the participation of rebel lawmakers from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Shiv Sena (UBT). Opposition leaders accused the Centre and the Lok Sabha Secretariat of giving legitimacy to legislators whose status remains under dispute.
The protest followed recent decisions by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, including approval of the merger of six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs with the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The Speaker also permitted separate seating arrangements for 20 rebel TMC MPs who are now associated with the NCPI.
Congress Calls Walkout a United Opposition Decision
After leaving the meeting, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari said the boycott was a collective decision taken by Opposition parties to register their protest against the Speaker’s decision.”Opposition decided to walk out of all-party meet to protest Speaker’s decision on rebel MPs of TMC, Shiv Sena (UBT),” Pramod Tiwari said.
Mahua Moitra Questions Invitation to Rebel MPs
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra strongly criticised the decision to invite the rebel lawmakers, arguing that their legal and parliamentary status has not been settled.
She pointed out that disqualification petitions against the rebel MPs are still pending and questioned how they were allowed to attend the meeting despite the absence of formal recognition.”Today, the entire opposition including Congress, the Samajwadi Party, DMK, JMM, Aam Aadmi Party, National Conference, Left parties, Shiv Sena UBT have all walked out of the all party meeting in protest because the so-called NCPI, which is an unrecognized party… These so-called rebel 20 MPs, their merger has not been approved by the Speaker. The 20 disqualification petitions are still pending… We have registered our strong protest and walked out as a symbol of our protest.”
Political Tensions Rise Ahead of Parliament Session
The walkout signals growing friction between the government and Opposition ahead of the Monsoon Session, with parliamentary procedures and the status of rebel legislators emerging as key flashpoints.
The controversy is expected to echo inside both Houses of Parliament as Opposition parties prepare to challenge the decisions concerning the rebel MPs during the upcoming session.
