TRS, AIADMK support land bill as Sena MPs abstain from voting

Non-NDA parties AIADMK and TRS today supported the Centre to pass the contentious Land Bill in Lok Sabha, giving a boost to the government in wake of BJP's key ally Shiv Sena abstaining from voting.
According to AIADMK sources, the party supported the bill after the government conceded to its demand against acquiring land for private medical colleges and private educational institutions.
"We sought that the government should not acquire land for private hospitals and private educational institutions. Since the government also came out with a similar amendment pertaining to Clause 3 and omitted certain lines, we had extended support to the bill," one of the sources said.

AIADMK is the third largest party in the current Lok Sabha with 37 MPs.
Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) also extended support to the BJP-led government with the party's MPs voting in favour of the bill.
TRS sources said their party decided to support the bill as the Centre incorporated the amendments sought by it.
"We had sought two amendments in the consent and social impact clause that were accepted by the government. Henceforth, we favoured the bill," a TRS MP said.
Of the total 11 TRS MPs, 10 were present in the House while one was absent due to personal reasons, the TRS sources added.