Congress, Opposition Bloc to Boycott JPC on Bills Targeting Tainted Leaders

The opposition INDIA bloc, led by Congress, has formally decided to boycott the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining three contentious bills introduced by the government to remove top functionaries—including prime ministers, chief ministers, and ministers—held under arrest for 30 consecutive days on serious charges. In a letter to Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday, Congress conveyed the unified stance of its allies, marking a significant escalation in the standoff that began during the Monsoon Session's final day on August 9. The move underscores deepening rifts between the ruling NDA and opposition over what critics deem an "unconstitutional weapon" to destabilise state governments.

Sources within Congress revealed that the decision was communicated after consultations among key INDIA partners, including Trinamool Congress (TMC), Shiv Sena (UBT), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and Samajwadi Party (SP). Earlier declarations from TMC, Shiv Sena (UBT), and AAP explicitly rejected participation, while SP signalled alignment to maintain bloc solidarity. The boycott, first reported by TNIE on September 14, aims to deny the JPC legitimacy, with opposition leaders arguing it circumvents established constitutional mechanisms like Article 75(2) for the prime minister and state-specific disqualification rules under the Representation of the People Act. By refusing nominations, the bloc seeks to highlight procedural flaws and rally public opinion ahead of potential state polls.

Last month, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla had dismissed boycott rumours, stating to reporters, "On the issue of JPC, no political party has communicated to me in writing on this subject." This claim now stands contradicted by the formal notification to Rijiju, potentially forcing the committee—chaired by BJP MP P.P. Chaudhary with 21 members—to proceed without opposition voices, mirroring the contentious farm laws JPC of 2020. The bills in question—the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill—were tabled by Home Minister Amit Shah amid uproar, prompting adjournments and accusations of executive overreach.

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Opposition protests erupted immediately, with leaders like Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge labelling the legislation a "sinister plot" to target figures such as Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal (arrested in the Delhi liquor scam) and Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren (facing money laundering probes). The bills propose automatic vacation of office upon 30-day custody, bypassing judicial bail considerations and potentially affecting 10 opposition-ruled states. Legal experts, including former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, have flagged constitutional infirmities, arguing it erodes federalism under Articles 164 and 239AA. As the JPC's report deadline looms in the Winter Session, the boycott could delay passage, fuelling debates on governance ethics amid rising ED-CBI actions against opposition ranks—over 120 summons since 2024, per party data.

This development arrives as the INDIA bloc navigates internal seat-sharing for Bihar polls, yet unites on national flashpoints. With the NDA holding a slim Lok Sabha majority, the standoff risks parliamentary gridlock, echoing the 2023 ordinance controversies. As Rijiju's office digests the snub, the bills' fate hangs in balance, testing the opposition's strategy to frame them as authoritarian tools in an election year.

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