New Delhi, Nov. 17 (IANS): The Opposition has increased its strength in Parliament as the 17th Lok Sabha readies to convene for the winter session, with the Shiv Sena walking out of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
The joint Opposition strength has crossed the 200-mark in Lok Sabha where there is no Leader of Opposition owing to the lack of the numbers required for this purpose in the Lower House.
The Shiv Sena has 18 MPs in the Lok Sabha and 3 MPs in the Rajya Sabha. The party has moved to the Opposition benches with a new political equation evolving in the state of Maharashtra where the Sena is in talks with the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) combine to form a government in the state which has been placed under President's rule.
The Congress has 52 MPs in the LOk Sabha, the DMK 24, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) 22, and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) 22, while the Shiv Sena has become the fifth largest constituent of the Opposition, as per details in the Lok Sabha website.
However, according to a leader, though three important parties -- YSRCP, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) -- are technically in opposition, their stand can change according to what suits them politically.
In the Rajya Sabha, where the Opposition has been fast loosing its grip, the joining of the Shiv Sena with its three members has come as a major boost.
Congress leader in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, asserted that the Opposition will be raising the issue of economic crisis during the winter session.
Regarding the NDA's former ally Shiv Sena, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi said: "Shiv Sena is working on a tie-up with the Congress as they have opted to sit in the Opposition. We have agreed to it and their Minister has also resigned from the government".
Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the all-party meet ahead of the crucial winter session of Parliament beginning from Monday.
