Monsoon Session from July 20; storm prediction over Delhi ordinance, UCC

Sources said the BJP will use the House floor to highlight Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s successful foreign visits abroad, the infrastructure push under his government, and its initiatives to contain inflation.

Among the legislation expected in the short Session — likely to have a total of 17 working days — are the much-awaited Digital Personal Data Protection Bill and the Forest Conservation (Amendment) Bill, besides the Bill to replace the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance.

Voting on the NCT Bill is crucial as it will be a test of the newly forged Opposition unity, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) having met parties to seek support against the Bill. The stand taken by non-Congress, non-BJP parties on the Bill will be a sign of things to come.

While the BJP with its 303 MPs enjoys a clear majority in the Lok Sabha, and would have no trouble getting an NCT Bill passed in the House, in the Rajya Sabha that currently has a strength of 238 MPs, it could find it harder if the non-BJP parties come together.

The BJP plus allies together have 111 MPs, including nominated MPs. The Opposition is only marginally behind at 106 members — barring the BJD, YSRCP, BSP, TDP and JD(S).

While these five parties were not present at the Patna meeting and have indicated their preference for remaining “equidistance” from the BJP and the Opposition front, the BJD, YSRCP and BSP have not made their position clear on the NCT Bill, and might be wary about the ordinance and its implications for a state government. The BJD and YSRCP have nine MPs each in the Upper House.

The AAP has been seeking that the Opposition vote together against the Bill, as it violates the principle of federalism by sidelining an elected government and handing over control of civil servants to the Lieutenant Governor.

AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal has met Opposition leaders seeking an assurance that they would vote against the Bill, but the Congress has refused to commit itself so far.

Another issue that could bring Parliament to a standstill is Uniform Civil Code, with talk that it might be brought in by the government gaining further momentum after a speech by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on it.

Given that elections in key states like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan would see a direct contest between the Congress and the BJP, both sides would want to send a message to their constituents, in what will be the last Parliament Session before the polls.

The Opposition parties are also expected to take on the government over the situation in Manipur, a BJP-ruled state that has been seeing clashes between two communities since May 3.

The Digital Data Protection Bill, expected this Session, was ready in the previous one but could not be tabled due to disruptions. The Indian Express had earlier reported that under the changes to the Bill, global data flows would be allowed by default to all jurisdictions, other than a specified negative list of countries where such transfers would be restricted. This could further liberalise conditions for data transfers.

Announcing the dates for the Monsoon Session, after discussions at the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi tweeted: “Urge all parties to contribute towards productive discussions.”

The new Parliament Building, inaugurated in May, is undergoing last-minute touches and checks of various systems by officials to ready it for the Session. There is no official communication yet though on whether the Session will be held in the new building.