Several opposition parties walked out of the customary all-party meeting convened ahead of Parliament's Monsoon Session on Sunday, protesting the government's decision to invite a breakaway group of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs to the discussions.
The meeting, chaired by Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju at the Parliament House Annexe in New Delhi, was held a day before the Monsoon Session begins. Opposition leaders objected to the invitation extended to leaders of the 20-member rebel TMC faction, which has sought recognition as a separate parliamentary group after aligning with the National Citizens Party of India (NCPI).
The opposition argued that the group's request for separate recognition is still pending before Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and that inviting its representatives to the meeting amounted to recognising the faction before a formal decision had been taken.
The invitation was sent to rebel TMC leaders Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Dr Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, who are leading the breakaway group. According to reports, the faction has extended support to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Opposition members raised objections shortly after the meeting began and subsequently walked out instead of participating in discussions on the government's legislative agenda for the Monsoon Session.
The Monsoon Session of Parliament is scheduled to be held from July 20 to August 13. Besides the dispute over the rebel TMC faction, the opposition is expected to raise issues including the NEET-UG paper leak case and other matters during the session.
