New Delhi: Opposition parties are planning a joint offensive against the government to corner it in Parliament on issues of national security like the border situation with China, handling of the COVID pandemic, economy and GST compensation to states, sources said.
Leaders of various opposition parties are expected to meet later this week to formulate a joint floor strategy in both the houses of Parliament, they said.
The Monsoon session of Parliament will commence on September 14 amid COVID-induced changes in its proceedings.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi has convened a meeting of the party’s strategy group on September 8, the sources said.
Opposition leaders are keen that various like-minded parties should work closely with each other to take on the government in Parliament. This was expressed by Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee, Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray and JMM’s Hemant Soren at a recent meeting of non-NDA chief ministers with Congress president Sonia Gandhi on JEE/NEET and GST issues.
The Congress strategy group has already met once and discussed the issues to be raised during the session.
Senior Congress leaders have also been asked to contact UPA allies and other like-minded parties to put up a united fight against the government, both inside and outside Parliament.
TMC leader Derek O’Brien had earlier said that like-minded opposition parties will work together in Parliament and find common ground on public issues.
There will be a lot of teamwork among such parties in Parliament, he had said.
CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said on Sunday that consultations are underway for a joint opposition strategy. (PTI)
