Cracks within Oppn over rigid stance on PM, many feel ‘repelled’ neutral parties

The MPs of some of the Opposition parties said the insistence of the leaders of some of the parties in the anti-BJP bloc that the PM should address the House on Manipur — and their refusal to concede to the government’s overtures — had “forced neutral parties such as the BJD (Biju Janata Dal), YSRCP (Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party) and even the TDP (Telugu Desam Party)” to back the government on the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and the no-trust motion.

A Congress MP said the leaders of these parties had conveyed that they would not remain neutral since the INDIA alliance had taken such a strong position. The MP pointed out that the BJD had abstained from the 2018 no-trust vote while the TDP had moved the no-confidence motion back then. The TDP has three Lok Sabha MPs and one in the Rajya Sabha. The YSRCP and the BJD have nine MPs each in the Upper House while they have 22 and 12 respectively in the Lok Sabha. The 26-party INDIA coalition has 109 MPs in the Rajya Sabha while the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has 100 MPs apart from nominated parliamentarians and Independents.

The Congress and the Trinamool Congress (TMC), according to sources, were left baffled by the “rigid stand” taken by the Left. Insiders said CPI(M) and CPI leaders were insisting that dropping the demand for the PM’s participation in the discussion should not be an option. The DMK, a close Congress ally, has also ruled out a compromise.

The sources said Congress leaders, apparently at Sonia Gandhi’s behest, decided to soften their position. “Unlike in the Lok Sabha, where the BJP has absolute dominance, the position of both the NDA and the Opposition is almost equal. The Opposition parties also have brilliant speakers who can make an impact. So, the power play in a debate will not be one-sided,” said an Opposition leader.

The leader added, “Besides, the Congress leadership seems to have sensed the groundswell from the Northeast in favour of a discussion on the matter. They were flooded with appeals that the party should talk about Manipur on the floor of the House.”

An MP from the Northeast said, “The general public of the region is unconcerned about the rules and regulations. There is no point in a struggle over a particular rule or two. What is required is a comprehensive discussion. With the latest confusion over the dates, many in the Rajya Sabha are doubtful if a discussion will take place at all.”