Congress President and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, has addressed a formal communication to Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the government's future legislative plans. In his letter, Kharge raised concerns over an "unprecedented" delay in the prorogation of Parliament's Monsoon Session, which was adjourned sine die on August 13. With 64 days having passed since the adjournment, the ongoing status of the session has become a point of contention for the opposition.
Kharge urged the Prime Minister to convene an all-party meeting to facilitate a detailed discussion on any new delimitation proposals before they are finalised for consideration in Parliament. This marks the fourth time the Congress chief has requested such a consultation, with previous letters sent on April 11, July 16, and August 27. Kharge emphasised that all political parties require sufficient time to deliberate on these sensitive matters, both among themselves and with other relevant stakeholders.
The Congress leader cautioned the Prime Minister against repeating past strategies, specifically urging him not to "bulldoze" a far-reaching Constitutional Amendment Bill through Parliament. Referencing previous legislative attempts, Kharge recalled how a similar proposal on delimitation had failed to secure the required two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha on April 17. He described the defeat of that previous bill as its "well-deserved fate" and reiterated the necessity for transparency and broader political consensus.
In the context of the April legislative timeline, Kharge noted that the bills were made public on the evening of April 14, followed by a special session convened on April 16. By raising these past occurrences, the Congress leader highlighted a perceived pattern of insufficient preparation and lack of consultation. He suggested that avoiding such an approach is essential for any future legislative business involving constitutional amendments.
Congress general secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, also commented on the development by sharing the correspondence on social media platform X. He underlined the gravity of the "unprecedented delay" in proroguing the session and suggested that the opposition is keeping a close watch on the government's potential legislative agenda. For the opposition, the delay in formal closure of the session and the lack of clarity on new proposals form the basis of their demand for an all-party dialogue.
The call for an all-party meeting reflects a broader push by the Congress to ensure that any changes regarding electoral boundaries or constitutional structures are not implemented without comprehensive cross-party input. As of now, the government has not formally responded to the request for such a meeting. Whether the administration will heed this call or proceed with its own timeline remains a matter of significant interest in the national political discourse.
The coming weeks are expected to clarify the government's stance on the delimitation issue, as the opposition continues to press for a more inclusive consultative process. The focus remains on how the Prime Minister will address the procedural concerns raised by the leader of the opposition, especially given the constitutional weight of the proposed changes and the requirement for a decisive majority in both houses of Parliament.
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