Monsoon Session of Parliament Likely from July 20; Women's Reservation Bill to Be Redrafted

The Monsoon session of Parliament is likely to commence on July 20 and continue for three weeks, according to officials. However, the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA) has yet to take a final decision on the schedule.

Typically, the Monsoon and Winter sessions consist of 20 sittings over four weeks, but shorter sessions have occurred in the past.

This session follows the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) victories in recent state elections in West Bengal, Assam, and Puducherry. Additionally, internal dissent within opposition parties, such as the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Shiv Sena (UBT), is expected to feature prominently.

A decision by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla regarding the recognition of 20 TMC MPs and six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs as separate groups is still awaited. In the Rajya Sabha, the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has strengthened its position after newly elected and re-elected MPs took oath.

The last session ended with the government facing a setback when a Constitutional amendment bill to implement women's reservation in legislatures from 2029, along with an increase in Lok Sabha seats, was defeated in the Lower House. The government is now redrafting the bill, with plans to possibly increase Lok Sabha seats uniformly by 50% for all states.

This proposed increase, linked to population, has raised concerns among southern parties, who fear it may reduce their relative representation. The government will need to navigate these concerns to secure passage of the bill.