The Central Hall of Parliament has seemingly lost its relevance after PM Narendra Modi issued strict instructions to BJP MPs and Union Ministers not to waste time chatting.

In the past three sessions of Parliament, the Central Hall was always full of either former members of Parliament who are interested in an increase of pension or medical and travel concessions. There are also between 25-30 journalists, mostly women, who spend hours at the Central Hall touching base with their sources.

Never in the three years of his tenure, has Narendra Modi spent time with mediapersons in Central Hall, even though he has to walk across the Hall to go to the Rajya Sabha.

The PM does not encourage any interaction with journalists on policy matters or behaviour of MPs during question hour or questions on their parliamentary constituencies.

Neither can journalists pick up any news on implementation of the BJP manifesto or performances of MPs.

After the resounding victory in the Uttar Pradesh polls, the presence of journalists in Central Hall has fallen. Congress Left and  TMC MPs are seen in the Central Hall, but not AIADMK MPs after the split.

In fact, the smoking room in the Central Hall is more popular where you will find both MPs and journalists lighting up.