Winter Session to be stormy
With Opposition parties gearing up to corner government on a host of issues, the month-long Winter Session of Parliament, which will commence on Tuesday, is set to be stormy.
Indications are there that the Left and the right could make a common cause on the issue of price rise and may bring adjournment motion the very first day.
However, keeping in view the heavy reforms-related legislative agenda of the government, the two sides — the treasury and Opposition — may find some common ground. Approximately around 30 bills are being lined up by the government for introduction and passage. Prominent among them are the PFRDA Bill 2011, Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill and Whistleblowers Bill and a bill relating to curbing malpractices in higher educational instructions.
Besides these, which have been already finalised, the government is also contemplating bringing in the controversial Lokpal Bill, the ambitious Food Bill and the much-awaited Land Reforms Bill during the course of the session.
On the PFRDA Bill, despite having some acrimony with the main Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, the government may see through the legislation, though the Left is ideologically opposed to the move.
On the bill relating to higher education, the government may find its path smooth.
But on the whistleblower and judicial accountability bill, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance and the Left may force the government to accept some amendments.
Meanwhile, indications are there that the BJP and the Left could make common cause on the price rise issue.
This was available with Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj when she said that her party will come to a decision on it after consultations with others opposed to the government. Opposition leaders have suggested a common strategy which will be firmed up after Monday’s meeting of the NDA after which the BJP will discuss floor coordination with other parties.
Moreover, there could also be Opposition unity on the issue of corruption in the wake of new reports of the CAG indicting the government as well as on the 2G case.
With Assembly elections for five states, including Uttar Pradesh, are scheduled early next year, the session is expected to be overshadowed by the developments in these states.
UP chief minister Mayawati has already stunned her detractors by coming out with the move of dividing the largest and politically most crucial state into four, and the development is expected to have repercussions in Parliament.
MPs from the Telangana region are also on the warpath amid announcements that they would not allow Parliament to function till the demand of separate state is conceded.
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