GST a done deal

​New Delhi: The Union Finance Ministry on Tuesday released the draft of model GST Bill in the midst of two-day deliberations by the State Finance Ministers' at Kolkata.

According to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, 22 states have given in principle agreement to the draft and only Tamil Nadu had some reservations.

"So far, every state has given its detailed views on the GST itself. Virtually, every state has supported the idea of GST. Except one state Tamil Nadu, they have made some suggestions which have been taken note of," Jaitley said.

"As far as 1 percent additional tax for first 3 years is concerned, I have made it clear that I am flexible on that issue", he added. He said that issues of dual control and revenue neutral rate will be dealt by the Empowered Committee.

There has been complete consensus on no constitutional cap as exigencies might arise in future to revise the rates, Jaitley said.

• With improved RS muscle, BJP pushing the bill
• Draft released as all states except TN get on board

However, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to accept the amendments that her government had proposed to the Goods and Services Tax Bill. She said the proposed GST, in its present format, would affect the autonomy of the Tamil Nadu government.

Jayalalithaa's meeting with the PM came just hours after Jaitley said in Kolkata that 'virtually all the states' had expressed support for the GST. He had said Tamil Nadu had expressed some reservations, which have been noted by a committee of Finance Ministers of all the states.

Jayalalithaa's request on the GST Bill was part of a memorandum she handed over to the Prime Minister during her meeting with him in his residence in New Delhi. The memorandum contained 28 other points of interest to Tamil Nadu.

However, the Centre is hopeful that the passage of the Bill is almost certain now when it introduces the same in this Monsoon Session. The current round of Rajya Sabha biennial elections to 57 seats have given the ruling NDA an edge over Opposition UPA, but it still lacks the majority it needs to push crucial legislations and may have to depend on regional parties who remain key players.

Regional players have 89 members. After the elections, in the House of 245, the NDA has raised its tally by 5 and now has 74 members. The UPA, on the other hand has 71 members, with its tally down by three.

Though satisfied with the response of the States to the GST Bill, the Centre knows that much spadework is still pending to get it safely through the turbulent RS.