INDIA Bloc Aims to Grab More Key Roles in Parliament Standing Committees

As the Lok Sabha polls have concluded with the INDIA bloc of opposition parties securing 236 seats, they are now eyeing more key roles in the department-related standing committees. The committees are expected to be announced during the upcoming monsoon session, which is scheduled to begin on July 22.

According to sources, the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha secretariats have written to parties, requesting them to nominate their respective MPs for the 24 panels. Trinamool’s Lok Sabha lawmaker, Sudip Bandopadhyay, confirmed that the Lok Sabha secretariat has sent a letter to him, asking for nominations. Similarly, a senior official from Congress president and Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Mallikarjun Kharge’s office confirmed that a similar request has been received from the Upper House secretariat.

There are 16 department-related standing committees under the Lok Sabha and eight under the Rajya Sabha. The final decision on the chairs will be taken by the Rajya Sabha chairman, Jagdeep Dhankhar, and Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla. A senior Congress strategist revealed that the INDIA bloc is expecting at least three additional chairs of the standing committees. “The Congress should get one more panel. Samajwadi Party, which doesn’t lead any such panel, should get one. And the Trinamool Congress should also get one chairperson,” the strategist said.

Lok Sabha’s LoP, Rahul Gandhi, is likely to head the Public Accounts Committee, the audit watchdog of Parliament, and a few Opposition leaders might also get the charge of other panels. Before the Lok Sabha election in May 2024, the Congress party led three standing panels: commerce, environment, and chemical & fertilizers. Trinamool, despite being the third-largest party in Parliament, didn’t get any chairman’s post. Samajwadi Party’s Ramgopal Yadav had initially chaired the health panel, but this reverted to the BJP after some time. DMK’s K Kanimozhi led the rural development panel.

This time, both Samajwadi Party (41 MPs in Parliament across the two Houses) and the TMC (42 MPs in the two Houses) will be entitled to at least one chairman’s position. “But the final decision will be taken by Dhankhar or Birla,” said a senior non-Congress Opposition leader. An Opposition functionary argued that “55% of the lawmakers are with the ruling side, whereas 45% are in the Opposition. If the chairpersons’ posts are distributed in this ratio, the ruling side should get 13 chairpersons of the department-related standing committees, and the others, 11.

Apart from the 24 department-related standing committees, Parliament has financial panels, ad-hoc panels, and other parliamentary standing committees to handle various aspects of the functioning of the highest legislative body in the country. During the course of a session, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha also form select committees or joint parliamentary committees to review specific bills or important issues. JPCs have been formed on the stock market scam or to investigate pesticide contamination in soft drinks and beverages.

The secretariats have requested parties to submit their nominations before the monsoon session starts. This development is significant, as it will give the INDIA bloc more influence in shaping the country’s policies and legislation.

Historical Context:

The Indian Parliament has a long history of having department-related standing committees, which are responsible for scrutinizing and advising the government on various policy matters. These committees have been in existence since the early days of Indian independence, with the first committee being established in 1952. Over the years, the number of committees has increased, and they have played a crucial role in shaping the country’s policies and legislation.

In recent years, the opposition parties have been seeking more representation in these committees, as they believe it will give them more influence in shaping the country’s policies and legislation. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the opposition parties had secured a significant number of seats, but the ruling party still managed to dominate the committees. This time around, with the INDIA bloc securing 236 seats, they are hoping to grab more key roles in the committees.

Summary in Bullet Points:

• The INDIA bloc of opposition parties is eyeing more key roles in the department-related standing committees of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. • The committees are expected to be announced during the upcoming monsoon session, which begins on July 22. • The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha secretariats have written to parties, requesting them to nominate their respective MPs for the 24 panels. • The INDIA bloc is expecting at least three additional chairs of the standing committees. • Lok Sabha’s LoP, Rahul Gandhi, is likely to head the Public Accounts Committee, and a few Opposition leaders might also get the charge of other panels. • Samajwadi Party and Trinamool Congress are entitled to at least one chairman’s position each. • The final decision on the chairs will be taken by the Rajya Sabha chairman, Jagdeep Dhankhar, and Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla. • The INDIA bloc’s increased representation in the committees will give them more influence in shaping the country’s policies and legislation. • The committees will be responsible for scrutinizing and advising the government on various policy matters. • The opposition parties believe that having more representation in the committees will help them hold the government accountable and shape the country’s policies and legislation.