Parliament: Suspense continues

Govt nervous in view of never-before-scenes in the House on Wednesday

Even if a single member seeks division, voting becomes mandatory

Govt in piquant situation

• PM fails to break ice with BJP leaders
• Govt keen on passing Bill by voice-vote
• Or it may just table Bill, defer debate for next week
• Govt says no need for Constitutional amendment

BJP noT FOR rushing Bill

• BJP insists on order in House to extend support
• Opposes voice-vote, seeks debate on the Bill
• Wants amendments on law & order, common capital
• Says justice should be ensured to Seemandhra region

New Delhi: The Congress-led UPA government is keen to bring the Telangana Bill in the Lok Sabha on Thursday. It will try its best to pass the Bill by a voice-vote, and, if denied the opportunity, it will just introduce the Bill and defer its debate for next week.

Given the agitated mood of the Seemandhra MPs and the insistence of the BJP on keeping the House in order, it is unlikely that the Bill will be passed on Thursday. BJP-led NDA besides MPs from Samajwadi Party, TDP and AIADMK are contributing to the din raised by the Seemandhra MPs.

At the luncheon meeting hosted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, ice could not be broken on the crucial issue of Telangana with BJP leaders putting the onus on the passage of the Bill on the shoulders of the UPA government. The Prime Minister told the BJP leaders that Parliament Session has not been fruitful, as yet and sought their cooperation for passing key legislations, especially the Telangana Bill.

According to sources, the government and the BJP were on a different page on issues whether the Bill required a Constitutional Amendment and whether it could be passed by a Voice-Vote.

The government insisted that there was no need for Constitutional Amendment. While under Article 3 of the Constitution, the Centre has the power to create a State, under Article 4 it has power to make

"consequential changes" required for the creation of the State. This enables the government to extend Article 371-D of the Constitution to the residuary State of Andhra Pradesh. Similarly, the law and order of Hyderabad can be given to the Governor as a consequential change.

The BJP, on the other hand, argued that law and order is a State subject that cannot be transferred to the Governor, without a Constitutional Amendment. Similarly, to make Hyderabad the common capital, a Constitutional Amendment is required.

The BJP leaders told the Prime Minister that there was no change in their stand on Telangana. They supported the Telangana Bill, but wanted justice for Seemandhra region.

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley wondered how "such a monumental Bill" could be passed without discussion.

The saffron party wanted financial package for Seemandhra and funds for the construction of its new capital.

NDA Working Chairman L K Advani, BJP President Rajnath Singh, Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha

Atrun Jaitley were invited for the luncheon meeting. The Prime Minister was assisted by Defence Minister A K Antony, Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath. The AP Reorganisation Bill 2014 contains the Financial Memorandum that makes it a Money Bill that could be brought only to the Lok Sabha. As per the government's internal assessment, resistance was less in the Rajya Sabha, where it hoped to push through the Bill with a few suspensions. Now, with the requirement to bring the Bill in the Lower House, since it involves withdrawal of money from the Consolidated Fund, the government is nervous, as it faces a tough challenge.

While it wants to pass the Telangana Bill by a voice-vote amid the din, even if a single member insists on division, voting becomes inevitable, which requires the House to be brought to order. Besides, since the government has moved 32 official amendments, the same have to be passed in the House.