While the political spectrum in Parlia-ment has not changed in actual terms, the Congress’ “presumptive” loss in the recent Assembly elections has left it to do a lot of manoeuvring to get its reforms and people-oriented agenda through.
Given that the Congress will not be able to improve its Rajya Sabha tally in the biennial elections due later this month, it is now virtually certain that the unfinished agenda of passing the Lokpal Bill will meet the same fate as the Women’s Reservation Bill. The UPA government faces a stormy Budget Session beginning Monday, with the Opposition parties (220 LS MPs) and key ally Trinamul Congress (19 LS MPs) set to raise contentious issues like NCTC and economic reforms on the pretext of federalism.
Parties like the BJP, JD(U), AIADMK, TDP, Akalis, SP and Trinamul Congress are determined to raise objections to any government move which they feel might encroach on states’ rights. However, there will be no threat to passage of the Budget or to the government’s survival.
***
Ban on cotton exports set to be lifted today
Pawan Bali
New Delhi, March 11
Bowing to political pressure, the government has decided to roll back the ban on cotton exports that was imposed last week. The decision was taken Friday by a GoM headed by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had asked it to review the decision.
Commerce minister Anand Sharma told a delegation of senior Congress leaders this will be formally announced on Monday.