Congress, NCP, TMC boycott Lok Sabha; SP, Left, RJD walkout

Opposition members were protesting the suspension of 25 Congress MPs

A combative opposition today launched a united protest in Lok Sabha against the suspension of 25 Congress MPs, as members of the Congress, TMC and NCP boycotted the proceedings and those of the Left, SP and RJD walked out soon after the House met.

As soon as the House met for the day, members from Left parties, SP and RJD wanted to raise some issues but were disallowed by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, who also rejected their adjournment notices and asked them to raise the issue during Zero Hour.

Soon thereafter when the House took up Question Hour, Jai Prakash Narayan Yadav (RJD) raised slogans like 'take back suspension'. He was soon joined by members from the Left and SP.

After shouting slogans from their benches, they staged a walkout. Those who walked out included SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and P Karunakaran (CPI-M), leaving the opposition benches virtually deserted.

The front row of the opposition benches were completely empty, barring only one seat occupied by AIADMK leader P Venugopal.

Members of the Congress, NCP, JD(U) and Trinamool Congress and Muslim League, were not present in the House.

All these parties are boycotting the House for the next five days in solidarity with the 25 suspended Congress members.