Cracks in opposition camp, "We are not rubber stamp", says Trinamool

New Delhi:

The ruling BJP-led NDA has something to relish about the happenings in the
opposition camp. 

Frictions in the opposition camp have come to the fore in more ways than one.

The Mamata Baneree-led Trinamool Congress has decided to keep a distance from Congress and 13 other parties vis-a-vis the move to boycott the proceedings in ongoing Winter Session of Parliament and insisted that it will not be "rubber stamp" to any party. 

"We are not electoral allies of Congress. We fought the polls in May alone. We want opposition unity but we 

are not duty bound to be anybody’s rubber stamp,” TMC Raya Sabha floor leader Derek O’Brien said.

He pointed out that there are some other parties that are in alliance with a party (read Congress). 

The TMC's stand is RJD, DMK and the CPI(M) have been electoral allies of the Congress; while on the

other hand two Maharashtra-based parties NCP and Shiv Sena run a coalition government with the Congress.

On the question of boycotting Parliament, O’Brien told reporters: “We will not boycott Parliament".

Several opposition parties want to boycott Parliament session against the suspension of 12 MPs

in Raya Sabha for the rest of the session. 

Twelve members including six from Congress, two each from Shov Sena and TMC and one each from

The CPI and The CPI(M) were suspended for their miscoduct during Monsoon session of Parliament. 

In Mumbai, Maharashtra Minister and NCP Leader Nawab Malik virtually counseled TMC chief Mamata Baneree,

who is now on a visit to the metropolitan, to appreciate the fact that the 'desired' 

opposition unity is not possible by keeping Congress out.

“Trinamool Congress is expanding outside Bengal and it’s the right of every political party. However, 

we believe that a united Opposition front is not possible excluding Congress. Sharad Pawar sahib 

has clarified this several times," said Malik, also known as a close aide of the NCP chief.

Meanwhile, Vice President and Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu has expressed unhappiness

over the continuous disruption of House proceedings since the Winter Session of Parliament got underway on

Monday.

"The bitter experience of the last Monsoon Session still continues to haunt most of us. 

I was expecting and waiting for the leading lights of the House to take lead in expressing outrage 

over what happened in the last Session," Mr Naidu said.

The Rajya Sabha Chairman also on Tuesday rejected the demand of Opposition parties and especially

Congress floor leader Malikarun Kharge to revoke the suspension of 12 MPs.

Mr Naidu said that the “decision is final” and that “....I am not considering” the request to revoke.

“You tried to mislead the House, disturb the House, ransack the House, and you are giving me lessons?” he asserted.

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