Congress' differing strategies in both houses of Parliament

Congress party explains its differing, and debatable, strategies in the two Houses of Parliament as part of a responsible and thought-through strategy

The opening week of Parliament saw the strange sight of the ruling party and opposition Congress benches voting together in the Rajya Sabha, while other opposition parties such as the TMC and the Left parties voted against a Bill.

The Congress has also taken different stands in the two Houses on the same legislation, such as in the Delhi Special Police Establishment (Amendment) Bill on appointment of the Central Bureau of Investigation chief. This dissonance, say insiders, can be attributed to the peculiar situation the party finds itself in. While denied the Leader of Opposition (LoP) status in the Lok Sabha, it cannot be seen to be exacting revenge by opposing needed legislation. And, a majority of the Bills introduced this past week were drafted by the Congress- led UPA government when it was in office.

The party voted against the CBI Bill in the Lok Sabha, where the government has a comfortable majority. And, supported it in the Rajya Sabha, where the government is in a minority. Explains a party senior, “Denial of the LoP status is an emotive issue and more so for the Congress in the Lok Sabha. So, they opposed it but they knew it would pass with the BJP’s (ruling party’s) overwhelming numbers. But in the Rajya Sabha, although the party was miffed at the government and could have defeated this Bill, doing so would have delayed the appointment of the CBI chief and the party would have lost the war of perception. Congress would have been perceived as working against the national interest. So, it supported it in the Upper House.”

Similarly, the Congress opposed the Labour Law Amendment Bill, 2011, in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday but voted in favour amidst opposition from the Left and other opposition parties. In the Lok Sabha on Friday, party MPs ‘abstained’, while the TMC, Left and Aam Aadmi Party voted against it.

“Labour law reform was a project initiated by the UPA. So, although we can be opposed to certain clauses, we cannot defeat the Bill. So, with the BJP being short on numbers in the Rajya Sabha, we let it be passed; same for the Apprentices Bill. In the Lok Sabha the government can push through any bill with its numbers, so our stand does not have much significance there,” added an MP.

“Defeating legislation in the Upper House would pave the way for a joint session and that weapon we should resort to for more crucial legislations, not these,” added the senior.

In such a scenario, the Biju Janata Dal and the TMC have not only led in opposing key bills in the Lok Sabha but have strategically moved amendments and demanded a division on votes. On the CBI bill, it was the BJD’s Tathagata Satapathy who moved an amendment and demanded a division.

The TMC has resorted to wearing black and was one of the foremost opposition parties which made the government agree to have a discussion on unaccounted money. The two parties have stepped up criticism of the government in the Lok Sabha, while the Janata Parivar’ has shown a similar willingness to take on the government in the Rajya Sabha.

At one point it even appeared as if regional parties like the TMC and BJD had filled the space vacated by the Congress as the lead opposition party. The Congress’ stand on other issues and legislation in the coming weeks will test its role as the largest opposition party in Parliament.