Opposition Protests Disrupt Lok Sabha on First Day of Monsoon Session
The first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament on Monday (July 20, 2026) witnessed repeated disruptions in the Lok Sabha as Opposition MPs raised issues including the alleged NEET paper leak and donation theft at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The House was adjourned six times and ultimately adjourned for the day at 3 p.m. with only one Bill introduced.
The disruption intensified as protesters led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) attempted to break barricades to march to Parliament, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak and irregularities in CBSE examinations.
Speaker Om Birla began proceedings with obituary references to six former MPs but soon faced sloganeering from Opposition members during Question Hour. He adjourned the House till noon, objecting to members raising slogans during the references, calling it a poor precedent. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju warned that the House could not function if disruptions continued.
The only legislative business transacted was the introduction of a Bill by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal to replace an Ordinance that increased the Supreme Court's judge strength from 34 to 38.
Political realignments following recent Assembly elections were evident. Congress, Samajwadi Party, and Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs protested over the NEET issue and the Ram Temple donation embezzlement. However, 20 rebel TMC MPs, now claiming affiliation with the National Citizenship Party of India (NCPI), did not join the protest in the Well.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) entered the Well but raised slogans against the Karnataka government's proposal to build a dam at Mekedatu across the Cauvery river, rather than the issues flagged by the Congress. This highlighted the split between the DMK and Congress after the DMK allied with the newly elected TVK government in Tamil Nadu.
DMK MP T. R. Baalu continued to sit next to Congress MP K. C. Venugopal, as Speaker Om Birla had not yet approved the party's request for separate seating. The DMK's departure from the INDIA bloc was clear when it skipped a strategy meeting of Opposition parties convened by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.
Sources said DMK supremo M. K. Stalin instructed party MPs via a Zoom meeting not to associate with Congress-related issues on the floor.
At 2 p.m., BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, officiating as Speaker, declared sufficient quorum to conduct business. However, some Opposition MPs alleged they were being prevented from entering the House. The House was then adjourned for the day.
