Parliament building inauguration: The political parties that have RSVP’d their ayes & nays

May 26, 2023 By: Katya Naidu

Why the boycott?

As many as 21 political parties including the Indian National Congress, CPI (M) and Aam Aadmi Party have said they’re boycotting the inauguration, as the ceremony will be carried out by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Credit: IANS

For the President

“It insults the high office of the President, and violates the letter and spirit of the Constitution," they said in a statement. A PIL was also filed in the Supreme Court seeking a direction to the Lok Sabha Secretariat for inauguration by the President. But the apex court refused to entertain it. Credit: BCCL

‘Soul of democracy sucked out’

“When the soul of democracy has been sucked out from Parliament, we find no value in a new building. We announce our collective decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building,” as many as 19 parties said in a joint statement. Credit: IANS

National & regional parties in the boycott

The political parties that have joined the boycott include, M K Stalin-led DMK, Shiv Sena (UBT), Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party, Mamata Banerjee-led TMC, Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party, and Lalu Prasad Yadav’s RJD. Credit: BCCL

The ‘other’ boycotters

Assam’s AIUDF, Indian Union Muslim League, National Conference, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Kerala Congress (Mani), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Rashtriya Lok Dal, Revolutionary Socialist Party and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam also joined the boycott. Credit: IANS

25 parties expected to attend

In spite of the protest, as many as 25 parties are expected to attend the inauguration, said a PTI report. Apart from the 18 parties of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), including the BJP, seven non-NDA parties will attend the ceremony, going by their stated position. Credit: BCCL

Rise above party politics: Mayawati

Bahujan Samaj Party, led by Mayawati, opposed the boycott and welcomed the inauguration. "Rising above party politics and looking at it in this context, the party also supported the inauguration of the new building of the parliament on May 28, it is welcomed," she tweeted. Credit: IANS

Opposition attendees

Apart from BSP, Shiromani Akali Dal and Janata Dal (Secular) are the parties from the opposition that will attend the function on Sunday. Credit: IANS

Neutral parties that will attend

Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal; Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party, and Jaganmohan Reddy’s YSR Congress Party will be present for the inauguration. They are neutral parties. Credit: IANS