Modi's 'Special session' of Parliament googly puts nation on guessing game ::: 'something up BJP's sleeves'

It all started here, like this. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in May 2014 bowed down while entering Parliament for first time. 

Nine years and three months later he has thrown a googly on Opposition.... catching friends and foes by surprise...the nation is on guessing mode and speculation game on agenda of Spl Session of Parliament.  

Well, it could be anything -- from a mere session to applaud Government for successful hosting of G-20 Summit to taking up the highly sensitive 'One Nation-One Election Bill'. In North East speculation is rife whether Constitutional amendments will be undertaken to 'resolve' the region's oldest insurgency tangle, the Naga issue. Talks are on at very advance stage. 

 

The Opposition I.N.D.I.A alliance has been caught by one of its biggest surprises. All its thunder vis-a-vis announcement of a convener and release of a logo lost the limelight on Thursday. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh admitted 'grudingly' that PM Modi has handled the headlines pretty well.

Rahul Gandhi said the government move reflected “a little panic". Jairam Ramesh, called it “managing the news cycle, Modi style” --- deflecting attention from the Opposition meeting and the fresh revelations on the Adani group. Shiv Sena (UBT) said the dates of Parliament session coincided with Ganesh Chaturthi, a major Hindu festival in Maharashtra.

One Trinamool spokesman appearing in a TV debate was categorical and said, "I will not speak on the matter (summoning of Parliament session) as only our party leader Mamata Banerjee will speak on the same." He even switched off the collar mike. Surprisingly, unlike Rahul Gandhi or Jairam Ramesh, TMC did not come out with any headline seeking reaction. Nor its vocal MPs either gave bytes or tweeted anything. 

In Mumbai meeting, Mamata Banerjee reportedly told other opposition leaders that steps should be taken fast to strategise Common Manifesto. The West Bengal Chief Minister favoured releasing the same on October 2, Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary.

Sources said Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and JD(U) Nitish Kumar also shared the similar sentiment.

Thackeray, whose party faces existential crisis as many mass base leaders are now in the NDA camp with incumbent Chief Minister Eknath Shindesaid, cautioned that the Modi government has something up its sleeve. 

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who earlier this week said that the BJP could advance Lok Sabha elections, said the Opposition parties should speed up their efforts. According to 'Indian Express', sources said AAP convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the Opposition parties should fast-track seat sharing talks and try to announce the joint candidate arrangement by September 30.