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Armed with facts and a strong agenda, the opposition wants to corner the Centre over a number of issues, including the controversial voter list revision in Bihar, in Parliament
**EDS: THIRD PARTY IMAGE** In this image posted by @kharge via X on July 15, 2025, Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge during a meeting, ahead of the Monsoon session of Parliament, in New Delhi. (@kharge on X via PTI Photo) (PTI07_15_2025_000071B)
A day before the monsoon session begins in Parliament, Vice-President and Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar called for bonhomie and mutual respect among political parties.
The monsoon session, scheduled from July 21 to August 21, has every potential to turn explosive with the opposition parties ready to take on the Centre over the voter list revision in Bihar, Pahalgam terror attack, and US President Donald Trump’s claims about a “ceasefire” between India and Pakistan during a military standoff.
Addressing the inaugural programme for the eighth batch of participants of the Rajya Sabha Internship Programme (RSIP), Dhankhar said parties must engage in constructive politics.
“Politics is not confrontation; I cannot visualise a political party being against the concept of Bharat. Have mutual respect, don’t trade unbecoming language on television, and avoid personal attacks. Isn’t it tiring to the ears? Our ears are fed up, aren’t they?” Dhankhar asked, referring to prime time news debates on television.
He added: “We can have differences of opinion, we can have disagreements but how can we have bitterness in our hearts? Hope for meaningful and serious deliberations in the upcoming session.”
Armed with facts and a strong agenda, the opposition wants to corner the government over a number of issues. Some of the worst political confrontations in Parliament have taken place in the Rajya Sabha. Some opposition MPs have even moved an impeachment motion against the Vice-President, which failed on technical grounds. But, things have not been smooth since.
The government has accused the opposition of disrespecting constitutional positions, like that of the VP. The worst was when Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee mimicked Dhankhar as other MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, cheered on the sidelines.
The TMC has a tense relationship with Dhankhar, going back to the times when he was the West Bengal governor. Now, however, with the impeachment motion and constant jeering, the opposition parties have little to no faith in him and have even accused him of being “a stooge of the government”.
But Dhankhar has, nevertheless, reached out to the opposition ahead of the monsoon session, which many feel may prove futile. He has been meeting representatives of INDIA bloc parties over the past few days in the hope that the House runs smoohtly.
There is, however, more likelihood of his appeal falling on deaf ears due to this being election season with Bihar later in the year and Bengal lined up next.
According to sources, the opposition has plans to regroup and move another impeachment motion against Dhankhar because they feel that he never takes any action against members of the ruling side.
Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als…Read More
Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als… Read More
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