Rijiju: Opposition vents poll-loss frustration in Parliament
Synopsis
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has put the disruption blame squarely on Rahul Gandhi, saying the Congress leader alone can rein in his MPs — and chose not to. The charge reframes the Monsoon session chaos as a leadership failure within the INDIA bloc, not a protest strategy, and sets up a pointed political narrative ahead of upcoming state elections.
Key Takeaways
Kiren Rijiju on 19 August said the Opposition lacks confidence after repeated electoral defeats and vents frustration in Parliament.
Rijiju held Rahul Gandhi , as Leader of Opposition, personally responsible for Congress MPs' disruptive conduct during the Monsoon session .
The minister said he met and spoke with Gandhi by phone but efforts to ensure smooth proceedings did not succeed.
Home Minister Amit Shah was present in Parliament every day during the session, Rijiju asserted, calling Opposition claims of his absence 'baseless rumours'.
The INDIA bloc 's parliamentary strategy is expected to be a key flashpoint ahead of the Winter session and upcoming state elections.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday, 19 August said the Opposition is acting out of diminished confidence following a string of electoral setbacks, and is channelling that frustration into disruptions on the floor of Parliament. His remarks directly addressed the conduct of INDIA bloc members during the recently concluded Monsoon session.
Rijiju's Core Charge
Speaking in an exclusive interview, Rijiju said, 'The Opposition is currently somewhat fragmented and lacks confidence. When they fail to win elections, they vent their frustration in Parliament.' The minister framed the repeated disruptions not as principled dissent but as a symptom of political demoralisation within the bloc.
Rahul Gandhi Singled Out
Rijiju went further, placing direct responsibility on Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, asserting that the disruptions could have been avoided had Gandhi chosen to intervene. 'I have met Rahul Gandhi and also spoken to him on the phone. I respect him a lot because he is the Leader of the Opposition and a senior leader. However, our efforts towards smooth functioning of the Parliament were not successful,' Rijiju said. He added, 'Everyone knows that if Rahul Gandhi wanted, the Congress MPs would not resort to abuses, sloganeering, and ruckus during the House proceedings. Rahul Gandhi is the only leader in the Congress who can correct the behaviour of his MPs.'
The Amit Shah Absence Row
The minister also pushed back against Opposition claims that Home Minister Amit Shah was absent from House proceedings during the Monsoon session. Rijiju maintained that Shah was present on Parliament premises each day from morning till evening, but could not participate amid the continuous ruckus created by Opposition members. 'He cannot really go amid the ruckus, can he? They are just resorting to spreading rumours,' Rijiju said, dismissing the Opposition's statements as baseless.
Broader Context
The Monsoon session of Parliament was marked by repeated adjournments and walkouts, with the INDIA bloc pressing the government on several contentious issues. This is not the first time the ruling dispensation has accused the Opposition of deliberate obstructionism — similar charges were traded during the Budget session earlier this year. Critics from the Opposition, however, argue that disruptions are often the only recourse available when the government refuses to allow substantive debate on key issues.
What Comes Next
With the Winter session of Parliament still months away, both sides appear entrenched in their positions. Whether the INDIA bloc recalibrates its parliamentary strategy — or doubles down — will be closely watched, particularly as several state elections loom on the horizon.
Point of View
The government sidesteps accountability for the issues the Opposition was actually raising. Pinning it on Rahul Gandhi personally is a dual move — it acknowledges Gandhi's authority within the bloc while implying he lacks the will to use it responsibly. What mainstream coverage underplays is that Parliament washouts hurt the ruling side too; fewer sitting days mean fewer bills passed and less legislative output to campaign on. The INDIA bloc's disruption tactics may be self-defeating, but the government's narrative conveniently avoids explaining why substantive debate on those contentious issues did not happen even when the House was in order.
NationPress
19 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Kiren Rijiju say about the Opposition's conduct in Parliament?
Rijiju said the Opposition lacks confidence following repeated poll defeats and is venting that frustration through disruptions during Parliament sessions. He made these remarks on 19 August in reference to INDIA bloc conduct during the Monsoon session.
Why did Rijiju single out Rahul Gandhi?
Rijiju argued that Rahul Gandhi, as Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, has the authority to discipline Congress MPs and could have prevented the disruptions had he chosen to act. He said Gandhi is the only Congress leader capable of correcting his MPs' behaviour.
Was Home Minister Amit Shah absent from Parliament during the Monsoon session?
Rijiju denied this, saying Shah was present on Parliament premises every day from morning till evening during the Monsoon session. He called the Opposition's claims of Shah's absence baseless rumours.
What was the INDIA bloc protesting during the Monsoon session?
The INDIA bloc raised several contentious issues during the Monsoon session, leading to repeated adjournments and walkouts. The specific issues were not detailed by Rijiju in his remarks, which focused on the conduct rather than the content of the protests.
What is the significance of this row ahead of upcoming elections?
With several state elections on the horizon, the exchange signals that Parliament conduct will be a key political battleground. The BJP is positioning the disruptions as evidence of Opposition disarray, while the INDIA bloc frames its protests as the only available check on the government.
