Opposition walkout, objection to TMC rebels getting invite set stage for Day 1 of Parliament session

Opposition parties in India demonstrated a rare show of unity by walking out of an all-party meeting convened before the monsoon session of Parliament. Their protest targeted the government's invitation to rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) lawmakers, who are planning to join the little-known Nationalist Congress Party of India (NCPI). The opposition argued that the merger had not yet received approval from Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

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We coordinated with Opposition leaders last evening. DMK and AAP (the two Opposition parties not in the INDIA bloc) also agreed to join us.

The walkout, which included major parties like Congress, TMC, DMK, and AAP, briefly disrupted the customary pre-session meeting. Leaders later returned to discuss the government's legislative agenda and opposition demands for debates on national issues. This united front among opposition parties comes after recent fissures within the INDIA bloc, particularly following state assembly elections and disagreements between Congress and DMK.

The protest also gains significance as it follows instances where DMK and AAP had previously skipped INDIA bloc meetings due to internal alliance issues. The upcoming monsoon session, running from July 20 to August 13, is expected to be a test for opposition unity, especially after 20 TMC MPs and six Sena (UBT) lawmakers switched to the NDA. The opposition, which previously managed to stall a Constitution amendment bill, will rely on parties like the Samajwadi Party and DMK to counter the government's legislative moves.

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We discuss matters based on the numerical strength of political parties, but we certainly cannot deprive anyone of their rights.

According to TMC leader Derek O'Brien, the collective strategy was coordinated after Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju invited the rebel TMC MPs. Rijiju defended the invitation, stating that the government cannot deprive members of their rights and that discussions are based on numerical strength. He characterized the walkout as symbolic rather than a boycott of the entire proceedings.

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It should not be viewed as a boycott of the entire day’s proceedings, it was symbolic.