Govt may table key Bills to 'split' Oppn

The government may table the two key Bills on women’s reservation and food security soon in Parliament to take the wind out of the Opposition sails.

The Women’s Reservation Bill, aimed at providing one-third reservation to women candidates in state Assemblies and Parliament, is bound to split the Opposition. The Food Security Bill, which will provide 25 kg of rice or wheat at Rs 3 per month to families below the poverty line, will be showcased as the government’s efforts to insulate the poor from the price rise.

The Congress core committee held its meeting today and discussed the issue of price rise of petrol and diesel. According to sources, the Congress brass also ruled out any rollback in the increase in petroleum products.

The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) managers are contemplating this twin strategy based on their two key Bills to counter a united attack from the Opposition on the issue of price rise.

The Women’s Reservation Bill is supported by the Left parties and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while the Samajwadi Party (SP), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and even a BJP ally like Janata Dal (United) are fiercely against it. Even if the outside supporters like SP and RJD vote against the move, the Congress can pass the Bill with support from just the BJP and the Left in both Houses of Parliament.

The constitution amendment Bill would require a two-thirds majority in each House — Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha — for its passage. In the Lok Sabha, the Congress has 208 MPs, while the BJP has 116. The Left parties have 24 MPs. In the Rajya Sabha, Left (22), Congress (71) and the BJP (45) can also pass the Bill with help of other allies.

A senior manager of the UPA told Business Standard: “We have noticed the Opposition unity during the last few days. But it’s another question how long this fragile unity will remain.”

In the winter session of Parliament last year, the leakage of the Liberhan Commission report on demolition of the Babri Masjid had helped the government in the same way. The Opposition unity over price rise was shattered as the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance found no support from Mulayam Singh Yadav’s SP, Left and Lalu Prasad’s RJD.

The UPA government also decided to roll out its flagship food security programme in the current session. The Food Security Bill will be uploaded on the internet first for public comments. The government plans to implement this flagship programme in phases.