BJP-Congress Face-Off: Constitution Debate Set to Unfold in Lok Sabha Today

Constitution Debate: The stage seems to be set for a face-off between BJP-led NDA and the Opposition INDIA bloc on Friday as the Lok Sabha will begin a two-day debate on the Constitution to mark the beginning of the 75th year of its adoption in the country.

As per the listed agenda of the Lok Sabha, there will be a “Special discussion on the 75th anniversary of adoption of the Constitution of India”. The discussions will begin after the Question Hour, which is also listed in the agenda of the lower house.

Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will likely to make her maiden speech in the Lok Sabha during the debate.

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Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will likely initiate the debate.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver the concluding remarks on Saturday, addressing both the debate and counterattacks from the Opposition, sources said.

Leaders and members of parties in the ruling National Democratic Alliance including HD Kumaraswamy, Srikant Shinde, Shambhavi Chaudhary, Rajkumar Sangwan, Jiten Ram Manjhi, Anupriya Patel and Rajiv Ranjan Singh are also likely to speak during the debate.

Sources said leaders of BJP and its allies are likely to refer to Emergency and speak about the "fake narratives being peddled" by the opposition.

Rahul Gandhi, as Leader of the Opposition, is expected to spearhead the Congress' offensive, maintaining a sharp focus on the Adani issue.

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This approach, however, risks further alienating Opposition allies, many of whom are likely to prioritise regional and governance-related grievances during their interventions.

Congress’ fixation on the Adani issue has strained ties with allies like the Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party. This week, these parties distanced themselves, criticising both Congress and BJP for engaging in disruptive political conflicts.

Ahead of the two-day debate, Prime Minister Modi held a strategy meeting attended by Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh, besides BJP president JP Nadda.

Shah earlier held a meeting with senior BJP ministers, including Nadda, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, at his office in Parliament.

The Opposition Congress also held a strategy meeting at the party headquarters which was attended by party president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi besides other senior leaders, including KC Venugopal and Jairam Ramesh, to plan for the strategy in Parliament for the upcoming week.

In 2015, the Government of India formally declared November 26 as Constitution Day (Samvidhan Divas) to honour the adoption of the Indian Constitution in 1949. Since then, the nation celebrates the Constitution's adoption annually this day.

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