NEW DELHI: Striking an accommodative stance on the first day of the commencement of the session of the 17th Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi advised Opposition to not worry about their numbers and sought their impartial participation in the Parliamentary business.
Modi's outreach to Opposition on the back of mammoth victory is seemingly an attempt to co-opt the Opposition in carrying out government's legislative business in both Houses of Parliament.
"The opposition need not worry about their numbers in the Lok Sabha. When we come to Parliament, we should forget 'Paksh' and 'Vipaksh'. We should think about issues with a 'Nishpaksh spirit' and work in the larger interest of the nation," Prime Minister told reporters ahead of the first day of the 17th Lok Sabha.
Later, Prime Minister tweeted after taking oath as a member of Lok Sabha that he looked forward to healthy deliberations with fellow MPs.
The first term of Modi led NDA government (2014-19) was marked by relentless confrontations between treasury benches and Opposition in both Houses of Parliament, contributing to over 50 legislations failing to gain Parliamentary nods.
Principal Opposition, Congress, too didn't get the status of leader of Opposition for failing to win 10 per cent of the mandatory seats in Lok Sabha elections. The Congress hasn't again won the minimum 10 per cent Lok Sabha seats to technically stake a claim on the leader of Opposition post in the lower House of Parliament.
Prime Minister's constructive overtures with the Opposition were also on display on Sunday when during an all-party meeting he sought their participation in deliberations on the subject of 'one nation, one election' on June 19.
Incidentally, Modi tweaked his government's punch line on electoral verdict day from 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vishwas' by adding 'Sabka Vishwas'.
Within a few days, Modi had further expounded on the principal theme of his government when he underlined that the NDA would seek out to win the trust of minorities in his speech after being elected leader of the ruling NDA.
"Parliament is able to fulfil aspirations of people when it functions smoothly," said Modi in his brief remarks outside Parliament, while expressing hope that the Opposition will play an active role and participate in House proceedings.