The session is expected to be a stormy one with a resurgent Opposition set to corner the Modi government on issues ranging from the NEET paper leaks to railway safety, to unemployment and price rise.

The crucial session is taking place against the backdrop of a changed political landscape in the wake of a fractured verdict in the recent Lok Sabha polls that did not give the BJP a majority, forcing it to lean on its NDA allies, especially N Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP and Nitish Kumar-led JD(U).

At the all-party meeting held on Sunday on the eve of the session, the Opposition leaders were united in raising their concerns over the ADG, Meerut Zone’s contentious directive asking the eateries and carts on the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of their owners and employees, ostensibly clarifying their religion, as reported by Liz Mathew. They asked the Centre to intervene, calling the directive “divisive”.

While the JD(U) and the YSRCP, known as one of the BJP’s friendly parties, raised their demand for a Special Category Status (SCS) for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh respectively, the BJD, the Modi dispensation’s erstwhile friendly party, also reminded the BJP about its pledge of the SCS for Odisha ahead of the 2014 elections. Another BJP ally, Chirag Paswan, Union minister and LJP(RV) president, also joined the JD(U) in demanding the SCS for Bihar.

With the Opposition having not got a chance to raise the issue of the alleged irregularities and leaks in the NEET exams as well as the Manipur crisis in the first session after the Lok Sabha polls, its leaders asked the government Sunday to respect the public mandate.

The government is expected to bring at least six Bills in Parliament over the course of the session.

SC to hear crucial pleas

On Monday, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear petitions on a range of issues from the NEET-UG exam to the Kanwar Yatra.

A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra would hear more than 40 pleas, including those filed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) seeking transfer of cases pending against it in various high courts on the NEET-UG row to the apex court to avoid multiplicity of litigations. The NTA had on Saturday released city- and centre-wise results of the medical entrance exam, which is riddled with accusations of paper leak and inordinate inflation of marks.

The top court would also hear a plea against the Uttar Pradesh government’s order that eateries and carts along the Kanwar Yatra route must display the names of their owners.

The order has been slammed by the Opposition parties and some members of the ruling NDA at the Centre, some of whom say it targets Muslim traders.

The apex court is also scheduled to hear on Monday a public interest litigation filed by NGOs Common Cause and the Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) seeking a court-monitored investigation into the electoral bonds scheme. The PIL alleges an “apparent quid pro quo” between political parties, corporations and investigative agencies.

OBC outfits’ march in Maharashtra

Several OBC groups will start a ‘Jan Aakrosh Yatra’ from Jalna in Maharashtra on Monday to pitch for protection of their quota rights, one of the organisers said. Addressing a press conference, activist Navnath Waghmare said the march organised by the OBC Protection Committee will tour various areas in Marathwada, Vidarbha and Ahmednagar.

Among the key participants will be OBC activist Laxman Hake, who has been heading a stir opposing granting of OBC status to Marathas as demanded by Manoj Jarange, who has been on a a hunger strike since Saturday seeking Kunbi certificates for Marathas, which will allow them to avail benefits of OBC quota.

Revanth Reddy in Delhi

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Sunday left for Delhi, where he is likely to meet some Union ministers.

CM Reddy, who is also state Congress president, would meet senior AICC leaders in the national capital too.

Reddy, who launched the Congress government’s crop loan waiver scheme recently, had said he would go to Delhi and invite Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for a public meeting to be organised in Telangana to thank the latter for the loan waiver.

– With PTI inputs