Today in Politics: BJP to commemorate Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s birth anniversary, MP Cabinet expansion

The Centre, which has been observing Vajpayee’s birthday as Good Governance Day since 2014, will mark the occasion with Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh launching three new features on the iGOT (integrated government online training) Karmayogi platform: My iGOT, blended programmes, and curated programmes.

As Vikas Pathak writes in his article on the former PM, “Post-Babri, Vajpayee’s days in political wilderness were over and he was deployed to defend the BJP in Parliament. He marshalled all his experience to defend a party that none was willing to touch. He spoke an inclusive language without being overtly secular … His inclusive talk was appreciated by BJP supporters, as it was spoken in earthy Hindi that was culturally attractive to them, and also by opponents who saw in him a graceful politician … If Advani had given the BJP an electoral edge amid political isolation, Vajpayee gave the party institutional acceptance.”

MP Cabinet to be expanded

Meanwhile, the Madhya Pradesh Cabinet will be expanded on Monday. The oath-taking ceremony will take place at 3:30 pm, according to Chief Minister Mohan Yadav. He, however, refused to divulge details such as the number of inductees in the council of ministers. The maximum strength of the Council of Ministers in Madhya Pradesh, which has 230 MLAs, is 35, including the CM.

Will Kharge meet the Vice President?

Rajya Sabha chairman and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has invited the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to meet him at his official residence at 4 pm or a time of his convenience to discuss the suspension of MPs.

In a letter to Kharge on Saturday, Dhankhar wrote, “I wish your assertion in your December 22 communication that ‘we firmly believe in fostering dialogue and discussion’ was reflected in actions.” Dhankhar said that during the entire session, despite his repeated requests in the House and by way of written communications to secure Kharge’s indulgence for interaction, the same did not fructify.

In context: As Anjishnu Das reported, by the end of the Winter Session, the Opposition benches in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha thinned down considerably. A total of 146 MPs from both Houses were suspended as they pressed their demand for Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement on the December 13 Parliament security breach and a discussion on the matter. This marks the highest-ever suspensions in a Parliament session.

But the ruling BJP pushed on with legislative business despite the suspensions, including taking up for consideration and passing the three Bills seeking to overhaul the criminal laws, and the passage of the Central Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill and the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Bill on Tuesday.

Wrestling federation row

A day after the Centre suspended the Wrestling Federation of India following a furore over the election of BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s aide Sanjay Singh as the sports body’s president last week, the political controversy around it refuses to die down. The Opposition has found a reason to target the BJP over the issue even as the ruling party moves fast to ensure that its Jat outreach does not get hit by this episode. Developments on this front will be ones to watch out for throughout the day.

Recommended reading: As Centre steps in to suspend WFI, deciphering what forced BJP’s hand

— With PTI inputs