Parliament Monsoon Session: Key Opposition meet to formulate strategy to corner Centre today

Ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament starting July 18, Opposition parties on Monday will hold a meeting to discuss a joint strategy to corner the government on various issues and finalise a joint candidate for the Rajya Sabha deputy chairman’s post.

The meeting of top Opposition leaders will be held at the office of Opposition leader Ghulam Nabi Azad in Parliament house.

“Opposition leaders will meet tomorrow (Monday) to decide on issues which will be taken up in the Monsoon Session. They will plan a strategy to seek answers from the government on issues related to increasing bank frauds, women safety and threats to national security,” senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Anand Sharma said in a briefing.

The selection of a joint Opposition candidate for the post of the Rajya Sabha deputy chairman’s post will top the agenda of the meeting. According to sources, the Congress party may give up the post and agree on the name of Trinamool Congress leader Sukhendu Sekhar Roy.

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Apart from Roy, the sources also said that the post may go to the National Congress Party (NCP). However, the name of the candidate had not been discussed yet.

However, the ruling NDA was also keen for the post and seeking the support from some parties like the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and AIADMK. Akali Dal leader Naresh Gujral was likely to be the ruling coalition’s candidate.

Besides, the Opposition leaders will also discuss a strategy to corner the government over several issues, including mob lynching, farmer’s plight, security of women and atrocities on Dalits among others.