Here's why Trinamool broke Opposition unity in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday

Ever since UP polls, TMC's aggression against govt has been replaced by "issue based" approach

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s emphatic electoral victory in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand has weakened the resolve of some of the opposition parties to take on the government. The starkest of the turnarounds has been that of the Trinamool Congress.

The Trinamool Members of Parliament, who during the winter session were all fire and brimstone against Narendra Modi government’s demonetisation decision, have turned a new leaf.

The aggression against the government has been replaced by “issue based” approach and an effort to convey to the government that Trinamool was no longer with the Congress and Left parties in opposing the government.

It is also trying to convey to the Congress party that the latter cannot expect support in Parliament if it continues with its alliance with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in West Bengal. The Congress and the Left parties had seat adjustment for the 2016 assembly polls in Bengal.

Several of Trinamool leaders, including its Members of Parliament, are being investigated for their alleged roles in a financial scam and a sting operation on another party MP has put Mamata Banerjee-led Bengal government under pressure. Recently, the Congress joined the Left parties in a joint protest against Trinamool in Kolkata.

The evidence of Trinamool’s altered approach came on Wednesday in the Rajya Sabha. Trinamool Congress members broke ranks with rest of the opposition to stage a strategic walkout in the Upper House just before other opposition parties prepared to vote on the Finance Bill.

The opposition scored a symbolic victory as it voted to have Rajya Sabha adopt five amendments to the Finance Bill. But Trinamool’s action was seen as an attempt to help the government. The Trinamool had moved amendments to the Finance Bill similar to those moved by Congress and Communist Party of India (Marxist) leaders, but didn’t vote.

 “The Congress cannot expect us to be with it in Parliament, while it joins hands with the CPI (M) against our government in West Bengal,” a Trinamool leader said. The Trinamool hopes it can drive a wedge between the Congress and CPI (M) in Bengal, where it is facing heat on corruption scandals.

CPI (M) chief Sitaram Yechury today criticised the Trinamool approach. He chided the party for providing back door support to the Modi government by walking out of the Rajya Sabha, and said Trinamool by adopting this approach was reducing its bargaining power with the government.

The Trinamool, led by its chief Mamata Banerjee, had aggressively criticised the Modi government for its demonetisation decision during the winter session of Parliament. Banerjee and her party Members of Parliament had led protest marches, and rallied other opposition parties, including arch rival CPI (M).

On November 13, 2016, four days after Prime Minister Modi told the nation about demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes, Banerjee had dialled Yechury and implored him to join a “united fight” against the note ban decision.