TMC to take it easy, let Congress lead charge against government in monsoon session

NEW DELHI: Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress (TMC) may have led the opposition charge in Parliament for most of the Narendra Modi government's first year but it is likely to take the back seat in the coming monsoon session. TMC is hoping that Congress will take the lead in opposing the government, given the belligerent mood it is in over the Lalit Modi scandal.

With the West Bengal chief minister going easy on the Modi regime to ensure that the state is able to extract benefits from the Centre before assembly elections next year, and the government hoping to get some bills passed with support of the regional party, the arrangement suits both sides.

The BJP's change in stance towards the TMC leadership is seen as a compulsion emerging from the realisation that there is little to gain for the party in Bengal as its prospects in immediate elections seem bleak and so it is better to befriend the party and dilute its opposition at the central level.

Therefore, the monsoon session is likely to see the TMC remain a silent observer behind the Congress benches. The TMC feels if Congress takes on the mantle to disrupt the House and oppose bills, there is nothing really that it has to do, and yet its mission of stopping some bills from getting passed will be served. "It is like sitting in the gallery and watching the lead players do the job," said a TMC member.

The TMC strategy is already in evidence during proceedings of parliamentary committees looking into bills such as the land bill and other panels where many opposition moves are being initiated by TMC members but put forward by Congress members.

For instance, in the select committee meeting on GST, Congress has started opposing the government but TMC has not. While TMC is not against GST, it does not mind if the government is in a soup over the bill's delay. A weakened Centre suits all opposition parties including TMC to be able to deal with it on its own terms.