The inauguration of the new Parliament House complex by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday is set to be a highly partisan event as most of the Opposition is set to boycott it.
The Opposition parties are boycotting the inauguration of the new Parliament House as it's being inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and not President Dropadi Murmu, who, they say, should rightfully be inaugurating it.
The inauguration of the new Parliament House complex by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday is set to be a highly partisan event as most of the Opposition is set to boycott it.
While the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is attending the inauguration fully, only five non-NDA parties from the Opposition camp are attending the function.
While the new Parliament House complex has been a subject of controversies from the onset, as has been the broader Central Vista Project which it's a part of, the boycott is over the fact that Modi, not President Droupadi Murmu, is inaugurating the Parliament.
Despite such a show of unity among Opposition, five parties have parted ways with the boycott call and are set to attend the inauguration ceremony.
Here is the list of all the parties attending and boycotting the function along with their combined parliamentary strength.
A total of 20 parties are boycotting the inauguration of the new Parliament House complex.
In a joint statement, 19 Opposition parties called the inauguration by Modi "not only a grave insult but a direct assault on our democracy". These parties maintain that they were open to the new Parliament House but are opposed to inauguration by Modi.
Noting that the inauguration of the Parliament building is a momentous occasion, the opposition parties in a joint statement said, "Despite our belief that the government is threatening democracy, and our disapproval of the autocratic manner in which the new Parliament was built, we were open to sinking our differences and marking this occasion".
The parties said that the President is not only the Head of State, but also an integral part of Parliament as she summons, prorogues, and addresses it.
"In short, Parliament cannot function without the president. Yet, the prime minister has decided to inaugurate the new Parliament building without her. This undignified act insults the high office of the president, and violates the letter and spirit of the Constitution. It undermines the spirit of inclusion which saw the nation celebrate its first woman Adivasi President," said the parties.
1. Congress (81 MPs)
2. DMK (34 MPs)
3. Shiv Sena-UBT (seven MPs)
4. AAP (11 MPs)
5. Samajwadi Party (six MPs)
6. CPI (four MPs)
7. JMM (two MPs)
8. Kerala Congress-Mani (two MPs)
9. Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (one MP)
10. Rashtriya Lok Dal (one MP)
11. Trinamool Congress (35 MPs)
12. Janata Dal (United) (21 MPs)
13. NCP (nine MPs)
14. CPI-M (eight MPs)
15. RJD (six MPs)
16. IUML (four MPs)
17. NC (three MPs)
18. RSP (one MP)
19. MDMK (one MP)
20. AIMIM (two MPs)
1. Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) (one MP)
2. BJD (21 MPs)
3. BSP (10 MPs)
4. TDP (4 MPs)
5. YSRCP (31 MPs)
Besides these five Opposition parties, the entire BJP-led ruling NDA coalition is set to attend the inauguration. The BJP will have the most attendees as it has a total of 394 MPs Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
(With PTI inputs)