The increasing number of suspensions in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha has resulted in a significant decrease in the strength of the Opposition during the ongoing Winter Session. Tuesday witnessed the suspension of an additional 49 members in Lok Sabha, including prominent figures like Shashi Tharoor, Manish Tewari, and Karti Chidambaram, bringing the total number of suspended MPs from both houses to 141.
This wave of suspensions has led to a substantial reduction in the Opposition's representation in the Lok Sabha, which currently operates with a diminished count due to 21 vacant seats, bringing the effective strength down to 522. Out of these, the BJP and its allies hold 323 seats, while the opposition parties account for 142.
The Opposition has encountered a significant setback, with a staggering 67 percent of its members facing suspension. In Lok Sabha alone, 95 Opposition members have been suspended, leaving a mere 47 opposition lawmakers in the Lower House. This reduction follows the suspension of 33 members on Monday, in addition to the 13 from the previous week and another 49 on Tuesday.
Similarly, in Rajya Sabha, the situation for the opposition mirrors that in the Lok Sabha. With a total membership of 250, and a few seats vacant, the current number stands at 238. Out of these, 93 belong to the BJP. Presently, 46 opposition members have been suspended for the remainder of the Winter Session, leaving fewer than 100 opposition MPs to hold the government accountable.
Notably, key figures from the Congress and DMK, including Shashi Tharoor, Karti Chidambaram, Supriya Sule, Dimple Yadav, and Farooq Abdullah, are among the suspended MPs, raising concerns about the Opposition's ability to engage in crucial debates and discussions.
In response to the mass suspension, a crucial meeting of the opposition INDIA bloc was held in the national capital, where a resolution was passed, declaring the suspension of Opposition members from Parliament as "undemocratic." The opposition accused the ruling BJP of undermining democracy, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi countered, accusing them of giving a "political spin" to the incident in frustration over recent losses in assembly polls.
