Opposition leaders meet to discuss monsoon session strategy

The meeting of leaders of opposition parties began here on Monday to discuss strategy for the Monsoon Session of Parliament beginning July 18.

The meeting will discuss the issues to corner the government during the session and is also expected to decide the stance on the election to the post of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman.

The meeting is being attended by Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, Nationalist Congress Party leader Sharad Pawar, CPI-M's Mohammad Salim, Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav, BSP's Satish Chandra Misra, Trinamool Congress leader Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, RJD's Misa Bharti, DMK's T.K.S. Elangovan, Janata Dal-Secular leader D. Kupendra Reddy, IUML's P.K. Kunhalitkutty, CPI's D. Raja and Jose K. Mani of Kerala Congress-Mani.

Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Ahmed Patel and Anand Sharma were also present.

Opposition parties have indicated that they will join hands in an election to elect the new Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman but there are indications that the election may not be held in this session. P.J. Kurien retired as the Deputy Chairman earlier this month.

--IANS

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