Was it a first day "failure" of new Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha -- Mr Rahul Gandhi ??

 Is this the way to start an entirely new innings ? Was it a first day "failure" of new Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha -- Mr Rahul Gandhi  ?? 

A post is more than an honour. It is also a responsibility. Did Rahul embrace failure on the first day itself ? 

Why K Suresh filed nomination and later there was no fight ? Worse, Suresh's candidature was proposed by a Shiv Sena (UBT) faction and not by any Congress member?

The opposition did not press for division and hence it was smooth sail for Om Birla to be elected as Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha.

If PM Narendra Modi has made a record of being sworn in as Prime Minister for the third term in a row; Om Birla joins the illustrious club of Balram Jakhar. 

For Rahul and Congress, the Speaker's election also shows its selfish agenda - promoting and pushing Congress interest. Mamata Banerjee will be the last person to feel neglected. So she came out with her double game. 

First. the TMC declined to back Suresh's candidature for the key post saying they were not consulted. Apparently Rahul tried to reach out to Mamata Banerjee before the session got underway on June 26th. Here too, there was cold shoulder treatment. Later they said, (when Birla was already declared winner), that there should be division. Different versions have come from Congress and other allies of INDI bloc at a later stage. 

Congress member from Bihar Tariq Anwar said he really did not know what was in TMC's mind. 

One JMM leader said, "We  never had numbers, we simply wanted to register protest the manner the government handled Speaker's election and hence we did not press for division".

Abhishek Banerjee, 'powerful' nephew of Mamata, said -- his party wanted a division and also raised the demand in the House but the chair -- pro tem Speaker B Mahtab did not allow so.

In short, that was first signs of a defeat and a cause of modest embarrassment for those who take 'leadership' in party and government as a sense of entitlement.

Nothing comes so easy ... even the 'defeat' ... Mr Leader of Opposition. What happens to overseas holidays ?? 

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