New Delhi: In a renewed effort to end the continuing deadlock in Parliament, the government on Wednesday opened channels with the Congress and sought its cooperation to ensure smooth functioning of the House through the remaining days of the Monsoon session.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju met Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi to try to break the prolonged impasse in the House, sources said.
The meeting, held at Gandhi’s office in Parliament House, was described by sources as a “confidence-building measure” by the government, as reported by The New Indian Express.
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was also present at the nearly 50-minute meeting. Party MPs Gaurav Gogoi and K C Venugopal joined the talks later, sources said.
The leaders discussed all pending matters, including the proposed Delimitation Bill and the contentious FCRA Bill.
This was Rijiju’s second meeting with Gandhi in the last 10 days.
After the meeting with Gandhi, Rijiju also called on Home Minister Amit Shah at his office in Parliament House, even as the Opposition has been targeting Shah for staying away from House proceedings.
Sources said Rijiju may soon broaden his outreach to other Opposition leaders, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, as part of the government’s effort to end the parliamentary stalemate.
Talk in political circles has centered on the Delimitation Bill and the Women’s Reservation Amendment Bill possibly returning in a special session after Independence Day, but government sources say no such move is on the table for now.
While it remains unclear whether the Delimitation Bill will be taken up in this session before it ends on August 13, sources said Home Minister Amit Shah will speak in Parliament when the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 is introduced for discussion and passage.
Since the Monsoon session began on July 20, the Lok Sabha has not been able to complete Question Hour. Five bills have been passed without discussion amid repeated disruptions.