Opinion | How The BJP Turned The Tables On Congress

The special two-day Lok Sabha debate on the Constitution, necessitated by the Opposition's campaign that the Constitution is under threat—their key campaign theme during the Lok Sabha elections—saw government benches highlighting the lapses of past Congress regimes. Leaders of the ruling coalition also used the opportunity to underscore the achievements of the Narendra Modi government. There were enough hints about the need to have a Uniform Civil Code. Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to it as the ‘Secular Civil Code' during his reply to the debate. Legislation that does not distinguish between citizens in civil laws may be the next major reform under Modi's leadership.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra made her mark in a grand style on Friday, December 13, as the first speaker for the Opposition in the two-day debate. Never before has a first-term MP anywhere in the democratic world been entrusted with opening a debate on behalf of the Opposition. Of course, her ‘entitled' status as a member of the Congress First Family played a role in securing her this opportunity, which she used judiciously.

There was no frivolity in her address. She provoked just enough without triggering chaos, criticising the ruling party and defending her own party's track record. She questioned why the Prime Minister was not present in the House when the debate to take stock of the Constitution on its 75th anniversary was initiated.