Opposition digs in its heels, Trinamool to harden its stand

Despite the first week of the Monsoon session being washed out and no business being transacted, the Opposition seems unrelenting in the face of an obdurate government. The Congress has dug in its heels with the demand for resignations of Sushma Swaraj, the Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan chief ministers. The Left parties, the BSP and JD(U) have joined ranks with it.

Now, the Trinamool Congress TMC is likely to up the ante with plans of holding a 'dharna' next week demanding a probe into the LalitGate incident. The Samajwadi Party has already made it clear that they are not asking for resignations. Despite the differing stands of the Opposition, no party in the Opposition wants to be seen openly siding with the government.

Sources say, it is prompted by this rationale that the TMC is hardening its stance. Party insiders say of late the party has increasingly been perceived as having muted its attack on the BJP led government in Parliament due to "other considerations." In order to dismiss such perceptions especially with the Assembly polls on the anvil, the party is expected to take a "strong stand against corruption" and ask for an indepth probe.

The TMC, till now on the directions of its party chief Mamata Banerjee had assiduously ensured that they did not disrupt proceedings or storm the well of the house. "But although we are not interested in seeking resignations we cannot be seen to breaking ranks with the overall Opposition." The TMC maintains that it was one of the first parties to seek a court monitored probe in the Vyapam scam and with the apex court now hearing the issue, it says their stand has been vindicated. The TMC it appears is resorting to a 'blow hot, blow cold' strategy.

What has rankled the Opposition especially senior leaders is the obdurate stand of the government. "Never before have we seen the ruling party holding a dharna - that's what they did outside Parliament on Friday. It is unprecedented. Instead of being in a conciliatory mode, the BJP seems to be egging on the Congress and spitting fire for fire," said a senior Opposition leader.

In the Rajya Sabha, Leader of the house Arun Jaitley was disparaging of senior JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav. JD(U)'s KC Tyagi speaking to Business Standard said, "We are on board with the Congress, we are first demanding resignations before we have any discussions in the house."

The Left parties have been unrelenting in reiterating their demand for resignation of the concerned BJP ministers. CPM Sitaram Yechury has gone so far as to also demand a JPC just as there was in the 2G scam. "If the government is so sure, why is its shying away from a probe", questioned Yechury.

Congress Ghulam Nabi Azad, also the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya sabha when asked whether the Opposition was united, had this to say, "Everyone is on board- it may appear that some parties are vocal in their support, others have occasional outbursts, while some are silent in their support."

Samajwadi Party leader in the Rajya Sabha Naresh Agarwal however says they are not seeking resignations on the rationale that "we do not seek resignations of elected representatives." The party wants both the Vyapam issue as well the LalitGate to be discussed on the floor of the house.

While the Opposition seems variegated in its approach, whether the government which is slated to call an all party meeting to get Parliament up and running in this second week, succeeds in its intention, is unclear.