Rafale deal, CBI vs CBI controversy to heat up Parliament winter session

In the 2017 winter session of Parliament, productivity was high in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha

But things will be different this year. The results of the Assembly elections will begin pouring in as Parliament convenes for the first day of the winter session on Tuesday. The counting of votes, on December 11, will coincide with the beginning of the session. A BJP defeat will embolden the Opposition to become aggressive and stall proceedings. By the same measure, a victory will boost  government self-confidence and demoralise the Opposition.

This will be the last full-fledged session before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The Opposition is expected to raise several issues — ranging from the Rafale deal to the working of the CBI — to target the government. The rancour and bitterness generated during the campaign for the just-concluded Assembly elections is also expected to infect the atmosphere. The session will mark the beginning of the stage-setting for the Lok Sabha elections: Which means taut relations between the government and the Opposition. Neither will yield an inch if matters come to a head.

As the next session will be the budget session dominated by economic issues, for ringside viewers, the upcoming session will be watched for its productivity but also for the political equations that will be on show: Whether the Opposition will be as united as they claim and whether divisions in the BJP will become public.

Will the Opposition demand a statement from the government on a minister who has resigned upon facing charges of sexual harassment (admittedly from people who are not members of the House)? All these issues will dominate the proceedings.