New Delhi: Pre-empting a scathing attack by the opposition parties over Vyapam scam and Lalit Modi row during the monsoon session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for the maiden meet of all NDA constituents on Monday to chalk out a strategy to aggressively take on the opponents.


COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

The meeting, called on the eve of monsoon session that starts from Tuesday, will aim to work out the plan to ensure a smooth functioning of both houses of the Parliament.


The seriousness of the situation can be gauged from the fact that this is the first time Modi has called for the meeting of the ruling alliance ever since he came to power in May last year.


However, the opposition is expected to launch a blistering attack on the BJP, especially on Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.


While, Swaraj and Raje are mired in controversies regarding Lalit Modi, Chauhan is under the lens for the Vyapam scam.


However, the BJP is seeking to counter the opposition strongly by attacking them on their weak lines.


Also, the BJP has been intensely preparing to tackle the upcoming monsoon session challenge as BJP chief Amit Shah'Sunday was packed with strategy meetings with various party colleagues, including union ministers Arun Jaitley, Swaraj, Smriti Irani, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Piyush Goyal.


Raje, the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, was also present at the meeting.


Also, Shah held a late night meeting with Chauhan who arrived in Delhi late in the evening.


Sensing the opposition heat awaiting his government in Parliament, Modi had on Friday acknowledged that there will be a 'muqabla' (contest).


While the BJP-led NDA commands an absolute majority in Lok Sabha, it lacks numbers in the Upper House where Congress is the largest party and holds key to the passage of the crucial legislations, including GST and land bill.


Before meeting the allies at his residence, Modi may also attend two separate all-party meetings called by Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu and Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to discuss ways to ensure a smooth session.


 


Making it evident that there will be no resignations, the party discussed how to counter the opposition attack in Parliament and harmonising of the response of the government and the party on these issues, sources said.


Congress has threatened to disrupt Parliament if its demands for ouster of Raje, External Affairs Minister Swaraj and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Chouhan are not acceded to.


BJP does not want to be seen on the defensive on the controversial issues plaguing the party for the last few months, the sources said.


"We will aggressively and effectively counter the disinformation campaign of Congress," said party media cell in-charge Shrikant Sharma, who was present in Shah's meeting.


"As far as Lalit Modi controversy is concerned, Congress is totally confused. On one hand, they are seeking resignation of our leaders on the basis of Lalit Modi's comments, but has no answer to his charges against Priyanka Gandhi, her husband Robert Vadra and an alleged deal Sonia Gandhi's sister. We will seek their answers on these," he said.


The ruling BJP, on its part, is likely to train its guns on Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh of Congress, who is embroiled in a disproportionate assets case. In an indication of the challenges his government is likely to face in Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has convened the maiden meeting of all NDA constituents tomorrow to deliberate the strategy to counter the opposition.


The government has finalised 35 items of business for the monsoon session, which included nine bills pending in Rajya Sabha and four pending in Lok Sabha, besides introduction of 11 new bills.


With PTI Inputs