Congress leader Rahul Gandhi seemingly spurred on by Mamata-Pawar axis

Opposition circles are amused by the 'Banerjee effect' on Rahul Gandhi, who has suddenly taken interest in engaging with 'UPA' leaders on Parliament floor strategy. Tuesday's meeting decided to escalate the aggression against the government on Pegasus, following its refusal for a discussion. It also decided to have further consultation on submitting a memorandum to the President.

Until now, Rahul Gandhi used to meet only Congress MPs in Parliament and delegated the task of coordinating Parliament strategy with other parties to Congress floor leaders. "He (Gandhi) seems to have been jolted out of his echo chamber and is suddenly discovering many of us with new-found eagerness. It is, evidently, a laboured exercise. He has been pressured to do so, maybe, because Mamata Banerjee and Sharad Pawar are taking the initiative for uniting anti-BJP opposition. Let us see how he (Gandhi) will continue with his efforts," said a 'UPA' leader who attended the floor-strategy meeting at the Congress Parliamentary Party office on Tuesday evening. The AICC later distributed photos of the Gandhi-presided meeting, even as Banerjee's Delhi show dominated the TRP.

Congress insiders said Gandhi will join select opposition MPs in filing notices for adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha over Pegasus and will attend Wednesday morning's meeting of opposition floor leaders, hosted every day at Rajya Sabha leader of opposition Mallikarjun Kharge's office. Until now, serving adjournment notices were delegated to 'lesser Congress mortals'. Tuesday's meeting was attended by TR Balu (DMK), Supriya Sule (NCP) and representatives of NC, IUML, KCM and RSP, apart from Gandhi and other CPP office-bearers. BSP's Riesh Pandey too participated but said he would seek party chief Mayawati's permission on notice for adjournment. SP and Trinamool MPs didn't turn up. "Yes, there is an attempt to make Rahul ji more active and visible among opposition leaders. He better be serious and regular this time, or we will end up watching others take over coordination of opposition parties," a Congress MP and Gandhi family loyalist said privately. Gandhi's optics notwithstanding, many opposition leaders feel the contours of opposition unity would be visible only after the next round of assembly polls.