From Our Political Correspondent
New Delhi: The Indian National Congress on Friday strongly criticised the Centre’s decision to convene a special three-day session of Parliament from April 16 to 18, terming it a clear violation of the Model Code of Conduct as the dates coincide with the peak of election campaigning in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
Party general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh, addressing a press conference here, alleged that the real purpose behind the session was to influence the outcome of the Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, scheduled later this month. He described the special session as an “Electoral Session” aimed at gaining political advantage in the poll-bound states.
Ramesh said the government had ignored repeated suggestions from the Congress and other opposition parties to hold an all-party meeting after April 29, once the electoral process in the five states is completed. He revealed that Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju had written to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge seeking discussions on amendments related to the Women’s Reservation Bill. Kharge had responded by urging the government to convene an all-party meeting instead of holding separate talks with individual parties.
Despite the opposition’s unanimous request made on March 24 and subsequent follow-ups, the government unilaterally announced the special session during the height of electioneering in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, Ramesh said.
He pointed out that the Women’s Reservation Bill was passed way back in 2023, and the Congress had at that time demanded its implementation from the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. “Like the claims of a double-engine government, the BJP now wants to take double advantage of women’s reservation,” Ramesh remarked.
While welcoming the government’s move to implement the women’s quota from the 2029 General Elections, he questioned the urgency and said heavens would not have fallen if the government had waited for 15 more days to consult all opposition parties as demanded.
Ramesh also expressed serious concern over reports that the special session might take up delimitation of parliamentary and assembly constituencies by amending Articles 81 and 82 of the Constitution. He cautioned against any haste in this sensitive matter, warning that southern states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka, as well as Punjab, could be put at a significant disadvantage.
Citing examples, he said that under the proposed increase, Uttar Pradesh’s Lok Sabha seats could rise from 80 to 120, while Kerala’s would go up from 20 to 30, further widening the existing gap. “If delimitation is also in mind, there should be no haste and it must not be bulldozed,” he warned.
The Congress leader said the party president would hold meetings with its MPs and other opposition parties to chalk out a joint strategy. “The entire opposition is together. The BJP’s design to divide and rule will not succeed,” he asserted, adding that the only purpose of the special session was to influence voters in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
This sharp attack from the Congress has escalated the political confrontation ahead of the crucial Assembly elections in multiple states.
