Mallikarjun Kharge, the Congress president and Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition, sent a fourth letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. The correspondence demands an all-party meeting to discuss pending delimitation proposals, criticizing the government for leaving Parliament in a state of limbo for 64 days since the Monsoon Session adjourned on August 13.
The letter details a timeline of ignored requests. Kharge noted he first wrote on April 11, before the government released the Bills on the evening of April 14 and convened a special session on April 16. The subsequent attempt to pass the Constitutional Amendment Bill failed on April 17, lacking the required two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha.
"You did not do so," Kharge wrote, referring to the initial request for a pre-legislative meeting. He highlighted subsequent letters sent on July 16 and August 27, stating he is now making the request for a fourth time. The Congress chief cautioned the Prime Minister against "bulldozing" a "far-reaching" bill, a tactic he argued met its "well-deserved fate" during the April session.
Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh shared the letter on X, describing the delay in proroguing the Monsoon Session as "unprecedented." The party insists all political entities require sufficient time to deliberate with stakeholders before any final parliamentary consideration.
The government has yet to respond to the letter. With the delimitation issue remaining a flashpoint, the next move lies with the Prime Minister's office, which must decide whether to convene the requested meeting or proceed with unilateral legislative action.