“Substance, not just duration, make Parliament an effective watchdog”, Open Magzine, November 10, 2025
“The scheduling of the winter session of Parliament from December 1 to 19, providing for 15 working days, has led to Opposition parties protesting that working of Parliament and accountability of government has been truncated. Congress media in-charge Jairam Ramesh said “clearly the government has no business to transact, no bills to get passed and no debates to be allowed.” Trinamool’s Derek O’Brien said the government suffers from “Parliament-phobia” or a “morbid fear of Parliament.”
The charge of curtailing Parliament requires attention as the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are essential to holding the government to account, to debate important national issues and legislation and consider reports submitted by various parliamentary committees. While past record shows that short sessions are not unknown, a longer session does offer more time for discussion and scrutiny of government business.
Opposition face a test too
Yet, it is not only the government that faces a test. Parliament sessions deliver an assessment of how effective the Opposition is in making its point and questioning the government. The late Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Pramod Mahajan, parliamentary affairs minister during the Vajpayee government, would say Parliament is about “mooch ki ladai” or, in the context under discussion, “scoring the debating point” much like a skillful fencer breaches an opponent’s defence. Parliament is a forum for oratory, the sharp feint and thrust of floor tactics and above all, political timing……”
Read full article at openthemagazine.com
