If not now, then later appears to be strategy
New Delhi, March 8: After failing to get the Women’s Reservation Bill passed in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, the government appears to have decided on a “go-slow” strategy on the issue. Many in the corridors of power attributed it to poor management while
others claimed that the government developed cold feet after SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, with 26 MPs between them, threatened to withdraw support.
Government sources said they had anticipated everything except Mr Lalu Yadav and Mr Mulayam Singh deciding to withdraw support to the government over the bill. If the Yadavs proceed with their threat, the government loses the support of 26 MPs, leaving it with just a single-digit majority. This means Congress managers will have to keep individual members, like SP rebel Jaya Prada, Independent Digvijay Singh and the Muslim League’s Asaduddin Owaisi, in good humour.
“The situation could emerge as very tricky for the government in the aftermath as the Finance Bill, or
the vote on the Budget, has yet to take place. If the government loses the vote on the Budget, it falls,” the sources said, adding that by postponing a vote in the Rajya Sabha on the bill today “we have just made a tactical retreat, we will ensure that the legislation gets passed in the current session itself”. They also emphasised that now it would be “difficult for the government to put the issue in cold storage once again” as doing so would be counter-productive.
When contacted, some Congress leaders confided that the government was willing to consider a vote on the bill without a discussion, but the Opposition and the Congress’ own allies, like the Trinamul Congress and DMK, were firmly against this.
Later on Monday evening the Congress core group, comprising Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, party president Sonia Gandhi, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, home minister P. Chidambram and defence minister A.K. Antony met but failed to take a final decision on how to break the deadlock. “Except for the fact that the Prime Minister will once again meet Mulayam, Lalu and Sharad on Tuesday, nothing concrete could be decided,” sources said.
Meanwhile, the Congress issued a fresh whip to its members in the Upper House to be present on Tuesday and vote for the legislation, which is listed as the first item of business. Party sources said the three-line whip was issued by the Congress Monday evening.
Parliament officials said the bill was “partially taken up” on Monday and therefore would form part of business on Tuesday.
others claimed that the government developed cold feet after SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, with 26 MPs between them, threatened to withdraw support.
Government sources said they had anticipated everything except Mr Lalu Yadav and Mr Mulayam Singh deciding to withdraw support to the government over the bill. If the Yadavs proceed with their threat, the government loses the support of 26 MPs, leaving it with just a single-digit majority. This means Congress managers will have to keep individual members, like SP rebel Jaya Prada, Independent Digvijay Singh and the Muslim League’s Asaduddin Owaisi, in good humour.
“The situation could emerge as very tricky for the government in the aftermath as the Finance Bill, or
the vote on the Budget, has yet to take place. If the government loses the vote on the Budget, it falls,” the sources said, adding that by postponing a vote in the Rajya Sabha on the bill today “we have just made a tactical retreat, we will ensure that the legislation gets passed in the current session itself”. They also emphasised that now it would be “difficult for the government to put the issue in cold storage once again” as doing so would be counter-productive.
When contacted, some Congress leaders confided that the government was willing to consider a vote on the bill without a discussion, but the Opposition and the Congress’ own allies, like the Trinamul Congress and DMK, were firmly against this.
Later on Monday evening the Congress core group, comprising Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, party president Sonia Gandhi, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, home minister P. Chidambram and defence minister A.K. Antony met but failed to take a final decision on how to break the deadlock. “Except for the fact that the Prime Minister will once again meet Mulayam, Lalu and Sharad on Tuesday, nothing concrete could be decided,” sources said.
Meanwhile, the Congress issued a fresh whip to its members in the Upper House to be present on Tuesday and vote for the legislation, which is listed as the first item of business. Party sources said the three-line whip was issued by the Congress Monday evening.
Parliament officials said the bill was “partially taken up” on Monday and therefore would form part of business on Tuesday.
Age Correspondent
