On Monday, Indian lawmakers commenced taking their oaths as parliament opened following a significant election setback that forced Prime Minister Narendra Modi into a coalition government for the first time in a decade. This first session, running until July 3, is anticipated to outline Modi’s plans for his third term and likely see the formal appointment of Rahul Gandhi as leader of the opposition — a position that has been vacant since 2014.
Modi’s first two terms in office were marked by landslide victories for his right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which enabled his government to pass laws with minimal debate. However, analysts now expect the 73-year-old Modi to moderate his Hindu-nationalist agenda to appease his coalition partners, shifting focus to infrastructure, social welfare, and economic reforms.
Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju called for a “peaceful and productive” session on Monday, although Indian media predict lively debates with a much stronger opposition. Headlines in The Hindustan Times read “All set to spar,” while The Indian Express stated “Resurgent opposition set to push government.”
Rahul Gandhi, 54, defied analyst expectations by helping his Congress party nearly double its parliamentary numbers, marking its best result since Modi came to power a decade ago. Gandhi, a member of a political dynasty that has dominated Indian politics for decades, is the son, grandson, and great-grandson of former prime ministers, starting with independence leader Jawaharlal Nehru.
Parliamentary regulations require the opposition leader to come from a party that commands at least 10 percent of the lawmakers in the 543-seat lower house. This post has been vacant for the past 10 years due to two dismal election results for Congress, once India’s dominant party, leaving it short of that threshold.
As Modi navigates his new coalition government, his ability to balance the demands of his partners with his party’s agenda will be closely watched. The session promises to provide a preview of Modi’s strategies and the opposition’s approach to challenging the government’s policies.