Govt faces nervous moments on GST as session concludes on Wednesday

The Lok Sabha's list of business for the three remaining days of the Budget session mentions Rural Development Minister Birender Singh introducing the contentious land Bill in the House. All eyes, however, will be on Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who will be tabling the goods and services tax (GST) Constitution amendment Bill in the Rajya Sabha.

The battle over the GST Bill could turn out to be a close one, since the government is in minority in the Rajya Sabha. The Congress has issued a whip to its Rajya Sabha MPs. It might also continue to raise its demand for senior minister Nitin Gadkari's resignation in connection with a Comptroller and Auditor General's report.

The Narendra Modi government is still hoping the Congress, if it comes to a vote, might not support the Bill but will at least not vote against it. When the Bill came for a vote in the Lok Sabha, Congress MPs had staged a walk-out, demanding that the Bill be referred to a Parliamentary committee. Senior ministers have reached out to the Congress and believe the party would not like to come across as anti-reform, particularly with a Bill that the United Progressive Alliance had shepherded for a decade. Congress sources claimed the party has indicated to the government that "it is either Gadkari or Bills".

On Monday, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) chief Jayalalithaa's appeal on a verdict in a disproportionate assets case comes up for hearing and could have ripple effect on Parliamentary proceedings. The AIADMK had voted against the GST Bill in the Lok Sabha.

The government, however, hopes to sail through with everybody else, minus the Congress and AIADMK, expected to support the Bill. According to sources, Congress floor managers are willing to commit their support to the Bill in the next session, that is the monsoon session if it is referred to a select committee this time. However, that would not only delay the rollout of the GST by a year, it will also frustrate the Modi government's hopes to claim the reform to be one of its chief successes during its one year anniversary.

As for the land Bill, it could get passed in the Lok Sabha given the majority the government has in the House. But it is unlikely to overcome the Rajya Sabha obstacle. Senior ministers have even suggested they are mulling constituting a joint committee to study the Bill.

Meanwhile, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has cancelled his visit to Telangana in view of the extension of the Lok Sabha session. The session concludes on Wednesday.

Pending Bills in Lok Sabha
The whistle-blowers' protection Bill, the land Bill; the Appropriation Acts (Repeal) Bill; the Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets (Imposition of Tax) Bill; the Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Bill, 2015; the National Waterways Bill; the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill; and the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill.

Pending Bills in Rajya Sabha
The Companies (Amendment) Bill; GST Constitution amendment Bill; and Prevention of Corruption Act (Amendment) Bill.