The UPA appears to be walking a tightrope over the Food Security Bill as the immediate ordinance route faces a Sharad Pawar roadblock. The NCP leader has reiterated that the bill, given its far-reaching consequences, must be thoroughly discussed in Parliament. The UPA also appears wary that Mr Pawar could exit the ruling alliance if an ordinance is forced through.
Though the food bill was not part of Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting agenda, the government is mulling multiple options. Sources said while calling a special session of Parliament would be “ideal”, the government is equally worried that the Opposition may come together to move amendments that could dilute it. “The ordinance is ready, but it’s not easy to push it through right now when the Monsoon Session is so near. Eventually the government may have to resort to the ordinance route, but before that other options need to be exhausted,” a source said. What complicates the UPA’s calculations is that if an ordinance is issued immediately but fails the test of Parliament in the Monsoon Session given the UPA’s precarious strength in the RS, the government would be embarrassed, sources said. While the SP, which supports the UPA from the outside, has rejected the bill, the AIADMK, TMC, JD(U) and BJD have strong reservations about it for its financial implications and political overtones.