A prolonged stalemate that had paralysed proceedings in both Houses of Parliament was finally broken on Tuesday after the government and the Opposition reached a consensus to hold dedicated discussions on two key issues. The breakthrough came following a series of high-level meetings, paving the way for debates on the 150th anniversary of the national song Vande Mataram and crucial electoral reforms early next week.
Timeline and Structure of the Debates
The agreement, forged at an all-party meeting convened by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, outlines a clear schedule. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will initiate a day-long discussion on Vande Mataram in the Lok Sabha on December 8. This will be followed by a two-day debate on electoral reforms on December 9 and 10. The Lok Sabha's Business Advisory Committee (BAC) has allotted a substantial 10 hours for each discussion.
Sources indicate that Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to intervene in the electoral reforms debate, with Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal providing the government's reply. The Rajya Sabha is expected to follow a similar timeline, taking up the discussions once they are completed in the Lower House.
Resolution After Intense Negotiations
The resolution ended two consecutive days of disruptions and protests by Opposition members, who were demanding an immediate discussion on the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in nine states and three Union Territories. The deadlock was resolved after multiple rounds of talks, including two meetings between Speaker Om Birla and Lok Sabha floor leaders, and one between Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and the leaders.
While the government initially resisted discussing the SIR in Parliament, it eventually agreed to a broader debate on electoral reforms, where the Opposition can raise the SIR issue. However, the government stood firm on its condition that the Vande Mataram discussion must precede the electoral reforms debate.
Opposition Dynamics and Final Agreement
The negotiations also revealed some differences within the Opposition INDIA bloc. Parties like the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) pushed for an immediate discussion this week, while others, including the Congress, were more amenable to the government's proposed timeline for next week. Despite internal variations, the Opposition was united in its demand that electoral reforms be discussed first, citing the urgency of the SIR matter.
Announcing the consensus, Minister Kiren Rijiju stated, "The all-party meeting was very fruitful... It was agreed that there will be a special discussion on the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram on Monday... On Tuesday there will be a discussion on election reforms." He emphasised that the debate on electoral reforms would allow for a discussion on various issues related to the election process.
In a conciliatory note, TMC leader Derek O'Brien said, "A responsible Opposition has done all it takes to get Parliament to function... We will expose the government in both debates. Bring it on." The Lok Sabha is now expected to function normally for the rest of the week, with the Opposition bloc finalising its floor strategy in a meeting on Wednesday.
