Monsoon Session 2026: Opposition Targets Government Over Wangchuk Protest, Paper Leaks and Other Issues

The Opposition is attempting to corner the government over issues such as exam paper leaks, activist Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike, the alleged theft of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, ethanol blending in fuel, and foreign policy. Against this backdrop, the Monsoon Session of Parliament is scheduled to begin on Monday amid expected political disruptions.

Since the two Houses of Parliament last met in April, at least 37 Members of Parliament from four Opposition parties have switched their allegiance to the BJP-led NDA, changing the nature of the Opposition itself. These developments are likely to help the government strengthen its numbers as it seeks to introduce a legislative package to advance the implementation of the Women’s Reservation Act.

A Wait-And-Watch Strategy?

In April, the government’s attempt failed to pass the Lok Sabha test. The ruling alliance’s numbers have been strengthened by the successive divisions within opposition parties, but these splits have also increased tensions and disagreements among them. However, given the rapidly changing political equations in Parliament, government sources said that it would have to adopt a wait-and-watch strategy before introducing the Bill.

Opposition parties boycott all-party meeting

The government invited the dissident faction of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which has merged with a little-known group, the Nationalist Citizens Party of India, to an all-party meeting on Sunday. However, Opposition parties walked out of the meeting. 

Among the parties that staged a walkout were the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which have not been participating in INDIA bloc meetings.

Gogoi’s Remarks On All-Party Meeting

Speaking after attending the all-party meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and attended by several Union ministers and opposition leaders, Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi said that the government has listed several bills for the Monsoon Session. However, he stressed that other important issues, including those raised by the Opposition, also need to be discussed in the House.

Protests Raise Tensions Ahead

The Cockroach Janta Party’s planned march to Parliament on Monday and the action taken to end Wangchuk’s hunger strike at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar have also created tension ahead of the start of House proceedings.

Opposition Questions Government Action

Days after Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi asked party leaders to support activist Sonam Wangchuk and demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, criticised the government’s action. 

Amid reports of a possible merger between the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) and the NDA-allied NCP, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar also called the government’s action against Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike “irresponsible.”