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Opposition planning strategy for winter session

By Javed M. Ansari

NEW DELHI DEC. 1. As voting is over in the bitterly fought Assembly elections in five States, including Mizoram, the Opposition parties have begun firming up plans to take on the Government in the winter session of Parliament starting tomorrow.

The consultation process began today with a meeting between the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Sonia Gandhi, and the CPI(M) leader, Somnath Chatterjee. A formal meeting of all the Opposition leaders will take place at Parliament House tomorrow.

Opposition parties also held their own strategy sessions. Senior Congress leaders met this evening to shortlist their agenda, as did the CPI(M) parliamentary group.

Mr. Chatterjee has been playing a catalytic role in getting the Opposition parties in the Lok Sabha to agree on coordinating their floor strategy. "It is my humble effort to ensure floor coordination between the Opposition parties," he said.

Though the strategy will be finalised tomorrow, the Opposition is keen on pinning down the Government on the Judev issue and on charges relating to ministerial interference in the running of public sector undertakings.

It is likely to insist on a statement from the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, on the issue. "He cannot treat such a serious issue in such a cavalier manner, he will have to come before Parliament and explain in detail," said a senior Opposition leader.

The Opposition will also grill the Government on the ethnic clashes in Assam and the targeting of Biharis, arising out of the Government's Railway recruitment policy. Other issues on which a consensus is likely to emerge are Ayodhya, the IDBI issue and the mid-term economic review.

Mr. Chatterjee has invited the leaders of almost all the parties in the Opposition, including the BJP's estranged allies such as the Bahujan Samaj Party and the National Conference.

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