Jaitley says govt is reaching out to AIADMK on GST

FM says hopeful of more legislative activity in Rajya Sabha after altered numbers; PM Modi may meet Jayalalithaa in Chennai in coming days

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today expressed hope that legislative activity in the Rajya Sabha would proceed "much more" in the forthcoming sessions of Parliament. He said the changed Rajya Sabha numbers, after the recent biennial elections to 57 of the Upper House seats, have weakened those who are known to obstruct. He also confirmed that the government will reach out to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa-led All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) for the passage of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) constitution amendment Bill.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to meet Jayalalithaa in Chennai in the coming days. The government hopes the meeting might help it get the AIADMK support for the crucial tax reform. The AIADMK and the Congress are two parties that oppose the GST in its present form. The GST, since its a constitution amendment Bill, needs to be passed by a two thirds majority in the Rajya Sabha. The government is in a minority in the Upper House, although the BJP and National Democratic Alliance strength has increased after the recent biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha and Congress numbers have declined.

Jaitley, addressing the media on the concluding day of the two-day Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national executive meeting, said: "The BJP is approaching every political party without exception as far as legislations are concerned. As for the AIADMK, we have spoken to them in the past and we will speak to them again."

As for the Rajya Sabha numbers, the Finance Minister said that much of the Bills come through after a consensus is reached at the level of parliamentary standing and joint committees. He, however, said that increase in numbers of the BJP and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) that it leads, as well as all those parties who normally do not obstruct proceedings makes him "hopeful the legislative activity (in the Rajya Sabha) can proceed much more now".

The recently concluded Rajya Sabha elections have seen the Congress strength decreasing while BJP's has increased, although Congress continues to be the single largest party in the Upper House. The government's intent is to pursue the passage of GST more aggressively in the monsoon session of Parliament that is likely to begin on July 25.