Parliament's Surprise Special Session Raises Speculations and Tensions Among Opposition Leaders Ahead of INDIA Bloc Meet

New Delhi: The announcement of a special session of Parliament by the Union parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi through X (former Tweet) has sent the opposition leaders gathered at the Grand Hyatt near Mumbai airport in a tizzy.

In fact, the BJP's government's announcement was a Machiavellian move on the eve of the INDIA bloc meeting scheduled to commence on Friday.

"The 13th session of 17th Lok Sabha and the 261st Session of the Rajya Sabha) is being called from 18th to 22nd September having 5 sittings. Amid Amrit Kaal looking forward to have fruitful discussions and debate in Parliament," Joshi said.

In fell stroke, the BJP has tried to change the thrust of the discussions among 80 leaders of opposition parties, including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Uddhav Thackeray and chief ministers of five states viz Mamata Banerjee, M.K. Stalin, Siddharamiah, Arvind Kejriwal and S.S Mann.

The leaders were planning to fine tune a political strategy to unseat PM Narendra Modi from power in the next year's Lok Sabha elections.

However, the declaration of the special session of Parliament has left them guessing about the intentions of the government.

The situation was made worse with the BJP not indicating the agenda for the special session. There was considerable speculation among the leaders gathered in the five-star comfort of the Grand Hyatt.

Focus on "One Nation One Election"

There was talk about the BJP planning to push through its agenda of "One Nation One Election" which, it feels, will give it a distinct edge over its rival parties. The opposition had, in the past, vehemently opposed the idea of "One Nation One Election".

The leaders were also wondering whether the LS polls would be held by December, 2023 since it would give reduced time to the opposition to make preparations whereas the BJP is all ready with its plans. The BJP has formed booth-level committees to mobilise votes.

INDIA Alliance Friction

Meanwhile, cracks in the INDIA alliance became apparent with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi vehemently reiterating the demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the affairs of the Gautam Adani group.

The new revelations made by two London newspapers about the failure of SEBI to an alert from the DRI about companies of the Adani conglomerate registered in tax havens buying up shares of the group in the India stock market apparently provided Rahul Gandhi the peg on which to base his demand for a JPC.

NCP leader Sharad Pawar, who, like PM Modi, has a close tie with Gautam Adani, had earlier opposed the need for a JPC probe.

Long-Term Strategy

Rahul Gandhi made the demand on Friday apparently to embarrass Pawar more than PM Modi.

If Mr Pawar is politically neutralised then his ambition to become convenor of INDIA alliance will go kaput. Of course, in the long term, Gandhi wants to use the Adani card to push PM Modi to a corner.