Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday set the tone for the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha during the discussions on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address, drawing confidence from the INDIA bloc's performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections.

Leading the Opposition charge in the Upper House, Kharge took repeated swipes at the BJP and its parent organisation, the RSS, besides Prime Minister Narendra Modi, pointing out that the general election this year had targetted the arrogance of the ruling dispensation as a result of which 17 ministers of the previous government lost.

Kharge said the Prime Minister’s “400-plus” slogan, coupled with statements by BJP leaders that the Constitution would be changed, made saving the constitutional values the agenda of the Lok Sabha elections.

“People felt that saving the Constitution was more important than their immediate needs,” he said.

Stating that merely touching the Constitution to the forehead was not enough when it is not backed by practice, Kharge remarked on the government's lapses in upholding constitutional principles, citing the vacant deputy Speaker position throughout the 17th Lok Sabha term.

Kharge also advocated restoring the statues of Parliament House to their original prominent locations, condemning their relocation as disrespectful to iconic leaders and historic figures.

Apart from dwelling on Modi’s diversionary politics, the leader of the Opposition also raised concerns about university appointments. Though his remarks on the appointment of members of the BJP’s parent organisation were expunged by Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankar, Kharge persisted and posted clips of his argument on X.

During the debate, Sanjay Singh of the Aam Aadmi Party stressed that the election results reflected a vote for inclusivity and warned against arrogance leading to destruction rather than development. “The people of India have shown that this nation belongs to all."

Referring to the arrest of several AAP leaders, including Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, he said: “You will not be able to finish AAP. Give up your arrogance as it is a road to destruction, not development.’’

In his speech, Manoj Jha of the RJD took a swipe at the BJP for trying to equate Modi with Jawaharlal Nehru because of being elected Prime Minister for the third straight term. “Mathematical length of career won’t make Modi a Nehru,’’ he said, adding that the 2024 mandate was for democratisation.