The government has kept open the option of calling a joint session of Parliament in case the Food Security Bill, passed by the Lok Sabha Monday night, runs into hurdles in the Rajya Sabha.
“We extended the Monsoon Session of Parliament till September 6 for that purpose,” said a well-placed Congress source. The party’s floor managers fear the bill may not be passed in the Upper House in the same form as adopted by the Lok Sabha. The Opposition and some non-UPA parties, while unlikely to oppose the bill directly, may move several amendments unacceptable to the government, and press for a division. Unlike in the Lower House, the government doesn’t have a majority in the Rajya Sabha, and depends on the support of the BSP (15), Samajwadis (9), RJD (2) and LJP (1).