New Delhi: Accusing the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) Government of making a mockery of Parliamentary system for electoral gains, CPM (Communist Party of India-Marxist) today (Feb 4, 2004) said it was considering moving the Supreme Court or High Court for an authoritative interpretation of the Constitution with regard to holding of the first session of Parliament in a year.

"We are consulting lawyers and we want to seek an interpretation of the scope of Article 87 of the Constitution which mandates that the first session of Parliament in a year should start with the Presidential address," party leader Somnath Chaterjee told a press conference in New Delhi.

The Opposition had yesterday (Feb 3) raised procedural objections in the Lok Sabha on the Government's interpretation that the current session was an extension of last year's Winter Session since the House had been adjourned Sine Die and not Prorogued.

Accusing the Government of failure to take the Opposition into confidence on major issues, Chatterjee said a "tamasha" (mockery) of the Parliamentary system has been made by the way the Interim Budget has been pushed.

The Prime Minister, he alleged, had been keeping himself away from the Lok Sabha except when he was giving replies to debates. "The way the business has been transacted leaves a bad taste in the mouth," he said.

Referring to the Interim Budget, the CPM leader said after dissolution of the Lok Sabha, the Government as a "caretaker" regime had no right to implement sops announced by it ahead of polls.