NE POLITICAL BUREAU
NEW DELHI, JULY 5
The stage is set for a politically charged Monsoon Session of Parliament, with Opposition parties preparing to corner the BJP-led NDA government over a series of contentious issues, including the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, the controversy surrounding donations made to the Ayodhya Ram Temple, inflation and electoral roll revision.
- Opposition lines up high-voltage offensive on education, inflation, electoral rolls and governance
- Congress, Trinamool and Shiv Sena (UBT) signal coordinated strategy ahead of July 20 Parliament session
- Government prepares legislative agenda as political temperature rises before 19-sitting Monsoon Session
- Session expected to witness fierce debates amid renewed demands for accountability and transparency
The Monsoon Session, approved by President Droupadi Murmu, will run from July 20 to August 13, comprising 19 sittings, with the government promising debates and decisions on issues of national importance.
Political observers expect the session to be among the most confrontational in recent years as both the Treasury benches and the Opposition prepare for a battle over governance, transparency and accountability.
Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat made it clear that his party would aggressively pursue issues affecting students and the common citizen.
“There should be meaningful discussions, and it should not be a 19-day session without any fruitful outcome, because the government neither takes accountability nor answers questions.”
Listing his party’s priorities, Bhagat said: “There are several issues we want to raise, including the NEET issue, the alleged theft at the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, and rising inflation, which remains a major concern. Our party will primarily focus on these issues.”
He also referred to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, saying: “Along with these, there is also the issue of SIR over which opposition parties have written to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant. We hope there will be a productive result of these discussions.”
The Trinamool Congress also indicated that it would join the Opposition’s offensive but ruled out making internal party developments part of its parliamentary strategy.
Senior TMC MP Saugata Roy dismissed speculation that the defection of rebel party leaders would dominate discussions.
“This is not a matter for discussion.”
He added: “The Trinamool Congress has filed disqualification petitions against the leaders who joined the NCPI. The Lok Sabha Speaker will take a decision on those petitions. Our concern is not to discuss this issue. We will focus on raising our voice against the BJP in Parliament. We will also raise issues related to the NEET examination and the Ayodhya Ram Temple donation controversy.”
Echoing similar concerns, Priyanka Chaturvedi of Shiv Sena (UBT) said the alleged irregularities involving donations at the Ram Temple deserved parliamentary scrutiny.
“We hope there will be a discussion on the theft of donations made at the Ram Temple and we will see what the government decides.”
Recalling the long journey of the Ram Temple movement, she observed: “Today, they have left no stone unturned in praising themselves. The Ram Mandir movement has a 500-year history, with the participation of millions of Sanatanis and saints. The struggle was fought in every way, and the magnificent temple was built through the court’s verdict.”
Congress MP Mohammad Jawed argued that Parliament must return its focus to development-oriented debates.
“Every session of Parliament is important.”
Criticising the government’s functioning, he said:
“In the last seven years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, there has been more of politics and less discussion about development.”
Drawing attention to constituency concerns, Jawed added:
“There are many issues we have raised repeatedly, but there has been no result yet. We have raised the issue of the funding of the Aligarh Muslim University centre dozens of times among other issues, but the government did not take any step yet.”
Former cricketer-turned-politician and TMC MP Kirti Azad accused the government of curtailing Opposition voices inside Parliament.
“Now, the Opposition exists only in name.”
He alleged: “If someone speaks, they are not allowed to do so. Even if they do, their remarks are expunged. The ruling coalition keeps saying whatever it wants.”
While the Opposition has signalled an aggressive agenda centred on alleged irregularities, inflation and examination reforms, the NDA government is expected to push key legislative business and seek smooth functioning of both Houses during the nearly four-week session. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has said the session is intended for “meaningful debate, discussion and decisions on issues of national importance.”
Whether the House will witness constructive debate or repeated disruptions is likely to determine the political narrative of the first major Parliament session after a series of high-profile national controversies.
