Parliament's Monsoon Session to Test Government and Opposition Amid Key Bills and Disputes

NEW DELHI: Parliament's monsoon session beginning Monday is set to test both the BJP-led NDA's political arithmetic and the Opposition's ability to set the agenda, with suspense continuing over whether the government will introduce the proposed Delimitation Bill to pave the way for implementing the Women's Reservation law.

The Opposition, meanwhile, is preparing to corner the government over the alleged theft of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the NEET paper leak and other examination-related issues, and the detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk.

The session assumes added significance amid recent defections and political realignments, particularly in the Trinamool Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT), which have altered the numbers.

If the government moves the Delimitation Bill, the stand of regional parties, especially the DMK-which backs women's reservation but opposes any delimitation exercise that could reduce the representation of southern states-will be closely watched.

The political contours of the session emerged at Sunday's all-party meeting chaired by Defence Minister and Deputy Leader of the Lok Sabha Rajnath Singh and attended by Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha JP Nadda, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and leaders of major parties.

The government has listed eight Bills for the session, including the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha and the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Rajya Sabha on Monday.

Congress deputy leader Gaurav Gogoi said the Opposition sought discussions on the alleged "theft" of Ram Temple donations, ethanol blending, student issues and examination irregularities, saying these were more pressing than the listed legislative business.

"The government should express its sensitivity" over the Ram Temple issue, he said, adding that it would suffer politically if it avoided debating these issues.

Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav demanded discussions on the Ram Temple donations and Wangchuk's hunger strike, while alleging that the BJP wanted to bring "dictatorship" through any proposed delimitation exercise. He asserted that his party would oppose such a move in all forms.

The all-party meeting witnessed a brief Opposition walkout after the government invited two rebel Trinamool Congress MPs representing the breakaway National Citizens Party of India (NCPI). The Congress, TMC, DMK, Samajwadi Party, Left parties, AAP, JMM, National Conference and Shiv Sena (UBT) accused the government of according legitimacy to the rebel bloc even though the Lok Sabha Speaker is yet to decide on its plea for recognition and on the TMC's disqualification petitions against the 20 MPs. The Opposition later returned to the meeting.

Defending the invitation, Rijiju said the government could not ignore the group as it had petitioned the Speaker for recognition and separate seating. Appealing for smooth functioning of Parliament, he said repeated disruptions had harmed the country's interests and urged parties to oppose the government through debate rather than protests.

"By protesting, no one is going to benefit politically," he said, adding that the government had taken note of the Opposition's suggestions and urged all parties to extend "positive support" to the Bills listed for the session because people wanted Parliament to function smoothly and "not cause any turmoil" in the House.

With constitutional politics, shifting parliamentary numbers and governance issues converging, the Monsoon session is expected to be watched as closely for the government's legislative strategy as for the Opposition's attempt to build a common political narrative.