The BJP has agreed to the first set of dates for the winter session of Parliament proposed by the government November 21 to December 21,precisely the period in which the two major parties will be in poll mode. The results of state elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh will be declared on the penultimate day of the session and the crucial Gujarat poll will be held midway through. In such stirring times,would the party be able to resist the urge to grandstand and posture in the House? The question for the main opposition party will also be: having shut down the House in the monsoon session,can it once again afford to be seen as obstructionist rather than aggressive and questioning? So far,the winter session appears to offer better prospects than the wasted monsoon session on just one count. With the unpredictable Trinamool Congress removing itself from the ruling coalition,the opposition can no longer deny responsibility for paralysing legislation by pointing out that even the allies of the ruling party oppose its policies. The BJP effectively stalled the last session with its strident campaign for the prime ministers head over the controversial allocations of coal blocks. Both Houses were adjourned sine die with 102 bills pending,of which 32 were of immediate importance. Of these,the government had hoped to see at least 20 discussed and passed. Only six bills were actually disposed of,some with minimal discussion,as the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were deprived of 77 per cent and 72 per cent of their scheduled time respectively. Now,with the unflagging industry of the self-styled anti-corruption campaign kicking up political dust and grime on a daily basis,will the BJP be able to resist the urge to reclaim the opposition space by shouting even louder,instead of carrying legislation forward? The BJP should be aware that it will be closely watched in the winter session. The smooth running of the House is the primary responsibility of the government,but the onus is also on the opposition it must not only call the government to account but also participate in discussion and debate. After almost a year spent in policy limbo,the government appears to have relaunched its reforms programme,but many of its parts would benefit from the careful scrutiny and consideration of the House. The BJP spent the last session disrupting deliberative democracy. How it behaves in the winter session will reveal its real stand on economic reform.
