TMC holds separate protest at Parliament, rift between "Opposition" deepens?

• Congress leads protest march of 17 Opposition parties to ED office
• However, Nationalist Congress Party and Trinamool gave it a miss
• TMC, however, held a separate protest on inflation and PM's absence from Parliament

The Indian political landscape is currently witnessing a flurry of protests and marches as the Opposition parties gear up to take on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led government on a number of contentious issues.

One of the issues that have gained traction is the Adani controversy, which has led to a protest march by legislators from 17 opposition parties, led by the Congress, from Parliament House to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office. The opposition parties are alleging that the BJP government is favoring the Adani Group, a large business conglomerate, at the expense of the country's interests.

However, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs chose to boycott the march, indicating a rift within the opposition ranks. The TMC held a separate protest on the issue of rising prices, a matter of concern for the common man. The party MPs, led by Sudip Bandopadhyay, protested in front of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi outside Parliament House, raising anti-government slogans.

The TMC has been critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's absence from the Parliament on most occasions, which it says has deprived the MPs of the opportunity to ask questions and seek answers from the government. The party has also accused the government of remaining silent on rising prices of diesel, petrol, and gas, which is affecting the common man.

The TMC's decision to hold a separate protest on a different issue has led to speculation of a rift within the opposition ranks, with some even hinting at the emergence of a third front ahead of the 2024 General Elections.

However, it is important to note that the opposition parties have united on several issues and have been consistently taking on the government on matters like the farmers' agitation, the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), and the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The BJP, on the other hand, has been dismissing the opposition protests as politically motivated and devoid of substance. The party has accused the opposition of lacking a coherent narrative and agenda, and of resorting to cheap political gimmicks.