The upcoming second half of Parliament’s Budget session, beginning Monday, is expected to be highly charged, with the Opposition gearing up to challenge the government on multiple contentious issues. Key debates are likely to revolve around delimitation, the three-language formula, US trade tariffs, and alleged electoral roll manipulation.

A major flashpoint will be the Waqf Amendment Bill, which has received Union Cabinet approval for introduction in Parliament. While the government, led by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, is pushing for its swift passage—claiming it will address several concerns of the Muslim community—the Opposition, particularly Congress and its INDIA bloc allies, have vowed to resist it. The JD(U) and TDP, key NDA allies, have indicated their support for the bill with modifications suggested by the Joint Committee of Parliament.

The session will also focus on crucial financial legislation, including securing parliamentary approval for demands for grants and completing the budgetary process through the Appropriation and Finance Bills. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present the Budget for Manipur, which has been under President’s rule since February 13. Home Minister Amit Shah will introduce a resolution seeking parliamentary approval for the proclamation of President’s rule in the state. The fresh wave of violence in Manipur, linked to the Centre’s efforts to ensure free movement along the state’s highways, is expected to be raised by Opposition MPs.

The Congress has scheduled a meeting of its Parliament Strategy Group on Monday to finalize its plan for the session, which will conclude on April 4. INDIA alliance parties are coordinating efforts to challenge the government on multiple fronts, including US-imposed tariffs and the deportation of illegal Indian immigrants in chains—a matter that has sparked significant controversy.

Another key point of contention is the ongoing debate over delimitation, particularly in southern states. Tamil Nadu CM and DMK chief M.K. Stalin has taken a strong stand against population-based seat allocation, fearing a reduction in Lok Sabha representation for southern states. An all-party meeting in Chennai last week called for an extension of the 1971 Census-based delimitation framework for another 30 years beyond 2026. Stalin has also reached out to other southern and eastern state leaders, urging them to form a united front against the proposed changes.

The DMK is also set to challenge the alleged imposition of Hindi through the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’s three-language formula. This issue poses a strategic challenge for Congress, which must balance its interests in the South with its electoral revival efforts in the Hindi heartland, especially with the Bihar Assembly elections approaching.

The TMC is expected to spearhead the debate over alleged voter list manipulation, particularly concerning duplicate Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers across states. Party chief and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has accused the BJP, in collusion with the Election Commission, of electoral fraud. The EC, however, has stated that while some voters may have identical EPIC numbers, their demographic details, Assembly constituencies, and polling booths remain distinct.

In the Parliamentary Business Advisory Committee meeting on Monday, Congress is set to push for discussions on the demands for grants related to the External Affairs, Defence, Railways, and Agriculture ministries in the Lok Sabha, while in the Rajya Sabha, it will seek debates on the Home, Education, Railways, and Health ministries.

With an array of contentious issues on the agenda, the second half of the Budget session is poised to witness intense debates, political confrontations, and strategic maneuvering from both the ruling and Opposition benches.