Setting the Scene On Sunday, a day before the Parliament’s Monsoon session—doubled up as the Budget session this year—floor leaders from various political parties convened to discuss their agendas for both Houses. The gathering saw the participation of 55 leaders from 44 political parties, including the BJP. The meeting, organized by the government, was chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
Demand for Special Status Congress leader Jairam Ramesh shared that the JD(U), part of the ruling NDA coalition, called for special category status for Bihar. Similarly, YSRCP advocated for the same status for Andhra Pradesh, while the TDP, BJP’s major ally, did not comment on this issue.
Concerns Over NEET and Central Agencies Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, newly appointed as Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha, voiced concerns over NEET, the alleged misuse of central agencies such as the ED and CBI, and reiterated the demand for the Deputy Speaker position. Notably, all parties concurred on the need to establish 24 department-related standing committees. Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav mentioned the recent directive from the UP government requiring food stalls on the Kanwar route to display owner names prominently.
Call for Orderly Proceedings After a disruptive first Lok Sabha session with frequent interruptions and walkouts, Defence Minister Singh appealed to the Opposition to maintain decorum during the Budget session. He emphasized the importance of allowing members to speak without interruptions, particularly when the Prime Minister is addressing the House.
Session Overview The Monsoon session is scheduled to have 19 sittings until August 12. The Economic Survey will be presented on Monday, followed by the Union Budget on Tuesday. The government is set to introduce six bills, along with significant banking amendments that could reduce the government’s stake in public sector banks to below 51%.
