Budget Session Battleground: Opposition Unity Faces Test As Government Unmoved

Last Updated:February 19, 2026, 22:16 IST

Not just non-Congress parties; some suspended Congress MPs are also worried about the strategy of non-cooperation

It has been almost a week since the end of the first half of the budget session, one of the most contentious sessions in recent times. Eight MPs were suspended, a no-confidence motion was moved against the Speaker, and a substantive motion to strip the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, of his membership was introduced. The session also saw an unprecedented situation where women MPs were accused of planning to harm the Prime Minister of India.

Many political analysts believe that the breakdown of civility and communication between the government and the opposition does not bode well for democracy. Since it is generally accepted that the responsibility to run the House lies with the government, analysts have suggested that in the second half, government managers must work to build a bridge with the opposition.

However, conversations with political leaders indicate a further hardening of stances in the second half. “We have done enough reaching out. One man’s stubborn behaviour is responsible for what is happening," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju recently told CNN-News18.

One of the opposition’s demands was to revoke the suspension of the MPs. But government floor managers suggest that, far from revoking the suspensions, the second half could see more MPs suspended, especially those who went to the Speaker’s chamber and then attempted to block the Prime Minister in Lok Sabha.

Further suspensions could deepen the divide, but it seems the government is not perturbed. The assessment on the treasury side is that non-Congress opposition parties like DMK, TMC, and even the Left would want the House to function, since ahead of elections in Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, this will be their last chance to use the parliamentary platform to corner the government on state-specific issues.

TMC has already broken ranks by not signing the notice of no confidence against the Speaker. Akhilesh Yadav also did not sign, although his party colleagues did. The no-confidence motion could be taken up on the first day itself, as the government wants to expose divisions within the opposition.

Not just non-Congress parties; some suspended Congress MPs are also worried about the strategy of non-cooperation. Continued suspension means no chance to ask starred or unstarred questions, no record of presence, and no opportunity to raise issues of their poll-bound constituency.

Senior Congress leadership, however, feels that they have managed to put the government on the defensive by highlighting the perception of 1) surrender to Chinese aggressions and 2) surrender to the Trump administration.

Both sides are adamant that they are on the right path and have the support of the people. But as parliamentary discussions, debates, and basic civility suffer, “We the people" can only watch as the democratic traditions of Parliament give way to something increasingly resembling a wrestling match in an arena.

News politics Budget Session Battleground: Opposition Unity Faces Test As Government Unmoved

Read More