Triple Talaq Bill in Rajya Sabha

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Exclusive report

Triple Talaq Bill in Rajya Sabha

Modi spoke to opponents to seek support

Many non-NDA parties fell in line

Some did not issue the whip

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, July 30

The BJP moved heaven & earth to muster support from parties which are not even part of the NDA for the Triple Talaq Bill. It was introduced this morning in the Rajya Sabha after being sent by the Lok Sabha. Since the BJP/NDA doesn't have numbers to get the controversial bill passed, the leadership decided to muster majority by using every weapon in its armoury.

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi personally telephoned Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to seek support of the Bju Janata Dal (BJD) which has seven MPs. The PM also spoke to the AIADMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister to direct its MPs in the Rajya Sabha to walk out of the House at the time of voting if not support. The 11-member AIADMK opposed the Bill while talking about it. But when it came to voting, they did what was told to them. The PM even spoke to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to pesruade Janata Dal (U) MPs in the Rajya Sabha to walk out of the house if they can't support. The Nationalist Congress Party did not issue whip to its 4 Rajya Sabha MPs on the bill. Interestingly, the Telugu Desam Party leader N Chandra Babu Naidu was also spoken to by a top leader of the BJP not to oppose the Bill. Though TDP is at loggerheads with the BJP as it broke the party in Rajya Sabha and took away four MPs. The remaining two MP did the summersault too when it came to the voting. So much so that the lone member of the Janata Dal (S) was conveyed to stay away from the voting whose government was dislodged in Karnataka.

The BJP also did a coup of sort when it won over a Congress member of the Rajya Sabha, Dr Sanjay Singh to resign from the house itself and join the BJP today. This brought down the Congress strength to 47. The SP MP Neeraj Shekhar had done the same thing last week when he quit the party and the Rajya Sabha. Many MPs like Ram Jethmalani and four others.

It is now clear that the very strength of the Rajya Sabha fell down steeply from 240 making the task of the BJP easier.

RS Chairman sent 80% Bills to Committees

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

RS Chairman sent 80% Bills to Committees

Naidu favours scrutiny of Bill by Committees

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, July 27

The Chairman of Rajya Sabha & Vice president M Venkaiah Naidu sent as many as 8 out of ten bills to the Department related Standing Committees of Parliament during the last two years.

Allaying apprehensions that the procedures are violated and traditions broken when the bill are not being sent to the committees for scrutiny, Naidu was at pains to explain to some of the members that 10 Bills were first introduced in Rajya Sabha until the last session. Of them, 8 were referred to the concerned committees. In fact, one more Bill, the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, introduced in and passed by Lok Sabha, after scrutiny of standing committee of the Lok Sabha, and sent to the Rajya Sabha was again sent to the RS Committee.

It was explained that during the ongoing 249th Session of Rajya Sabha, Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, Arbitration and Conciliation Bill and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Bill, were first introduced in Rajya Sabha and passed without being referred to Standing Committees as new Committees had not been constituted after the fresh Lok Sabha polls. One more Bill viz., the Insolvency and Bankruptcy (Amendment) Bill is still to be taken up for consideration in Rajya Sabha next week, say these sources. The Opposition parties insisted on referring the RTI Bill to the Select Committee. But it lost the vote. Naidu is reported to have told some members that he would not bypass the committees to fast track passage of the bills.

Procedurally, a Bill can be referred to Department Related Standing Committee of Parliament for scrutiny where it is first introduced. If a Bill is introduced first in Lok Sabha than that House alone can refer it to the Standing Committee. If a Bill introduced in and then passed by LS and transmitted to the Upper House, it can refer to Select Committee or pass it without referring to a committee.

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Why delay to chose new Congress President ?

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Special Report 

Why delay to chose new Congress President ?

Sonia hopeful of Rahul's return

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, July 27

The suspense continues over the delay in choosing a new Congress president after Rahul Gandhi abruptly quit as party chief on May 25.  Though it was widely reported that the Congress Working Committee will meet this week to select a “working president”. But Rahul Gandhi left for the USA leaving everyone high and dry. Rahul Gandhi was back in the Capital on Thursday last but there are no signs of a CWC meet. 

Highly placed sources say that the CWC meeting may not take place early. These sources say that UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi is in no hurry either to get a new “working president” elected. She wants to give enough time to Rahul Gandhi to ponder over his resignation. She believes that Rahul Gandhi quit the post in a huff and  anger in the aftermath of massive defeat of the party in the Lok Sabha polls on May 23. Rahul Gandhi was extremely angry as he had expected the party to win at least  150 Lok Sabha seats. His assessment was based on data analytics head Praveen Chakravarty  who had convinced him of achieving the target and also reassured him that “Chowkidar Chore Hai” slogan is successful. Several state Congress leaders had told Rahul Gandhi of party getting good number of seats in their respective states. It was in this background that he went ballistic at the CWC meet for the poor showing and held them responsible too. He tendered his own resignation and had expected that they too will follow suit. But nothing of the sort happened and things came to a standstill.

BJP breaks Opposition parties in Rajya Sabha, Gains Majority to get RTI amendment bill passed

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

BJP breaks Opposition parties in Rajya Sabha, 

Gains Majority to get RTI amendment bill passed

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, July 25

The BJP has done it in Rajya Sabha what was unthinkable until the other day. The BJP and the NDA have the support of 102 members in a House of 240 members and the Opposition had 138 MPs on its side. But it created history when it secured the support of 117 votes and the contentious Right to Information (Amendment) Bill was passed.

Interestingly, the Congress and some of the Opposition parties walked out of the house realising that they would lose the vote. However, they took the plea that some of the ruling party members were trying to influence members when the voting was going on.

The support of 117 showed that the government is now comfortable in the Rajya Sabha too.

Though the Congress successfully mustered the support of TMC, NCP, SP, BSP, Left parties and others. But the BJP succeeded in persuading non-allies like the AIADMK, YSR Congress and even the TRS to support the Bill. Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh conceded defeat while making his intervention during the debate saying, “I am aware that telephone calls were made to the state Capitals to muster a majority”. The YSR Congress has two MPs. It si learnt that the two MPs of the PDP and lone MP of the JD-S preferred to remain absent at the time of voting. Surprisingly, even two member TDP also was soft when its leader spoke in the Rajya Sabha.

The Janata Dal (U) which had categoricallystated its opposition to the Triple Talaq Bill, decided to vote in favour of the amendment.

Another ineresting fact also emerged that except for the BJP and its allies parties, no other Opposition party except the Congress issued a whip to its members to attend the House when voting takes place. It is largely because of this very reason that fewer number of members were present in the house when the voting took place.

The TRS wanted an assurance from the government that it would maintain the independence of the Information Commission which was galdly given by Minister of State in the PMO Dr Jitendra Singh.

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Uncertainty over next Cabinet Secretary continues

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Uncertainty over next Cabinet Secretary continues

Rajiv Gauba tops the race

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, July 25

With the appointment of Ajay Bhalla as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Union Home Ministry, the spot light has shifted on the next Cabinet Secretary. It was widely speculated that the government will also announce the road map for the next Cabinet Secretary as current incumbent P K Sinha retires on September 12 after serving for more than four years. P K Sinha was even given an extra-ordernary extension of three months in June which surprised bureaucracy watchers. It was felt that if the government wanted to promote present Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba as the next Cabinet Secretary it could have done it straight way by appointing him as the OSD. But the delay occurred as the government was not sure who should be the next Home Secretary. The new Home Minister Amit Shah was new in his job and wanted time to understand the functioning of the Home Ministry. He wanted Rajiv Gauba to stay for a couple of months in the Home Ministry as part of the continuity and updating. Having accomplished the task in the home ministry, it was expected that orders for Gauba's promotion to the Cabinet Secretary as OSD would be issued. However, these sources say that Gauba's orders may still come within the next three to four weeks once Dr Ajay Bhalla gets adequate experience to take over as Home Secretary next month. Ajay Bhalla made his mark in the Power Secretary by ensuring that power is supplied to each village of the country. The Prime Minister was particularly happy with his performance and reportedly selected him for the Home ministry.

Bureaucrats are keeping their fingers crossed as no one is sure who will be the next Cabinet Secretary. Telecom Secretary Aruna Sundaram who was also in the reckoning for promotion as Cabinet Secretary is also set to retire on August 31 as her successor has also been named. It is also clear that P K Sinha who was given extraordinary extension in June will not get another extension. But uncertainty continues for some more time. 

PM Pitches Amit Shah at BJP MPs meet

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

PM Pitches Amit Shah at BJP MPs meet

Session to be extended for 10 sitting days

Jal Shakti Minister makes 22-minute presentation on water crisis

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, July 23

Union Home Minister Amit Shah disclosed before the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting this morning that the current session of parliament may be extended by ten working days.

Amit Shah said that several crucial bills are to be passed and legsialtive agenda is to be completed. Therefore, the session may have to be extended. Since the current session was scheduled to end on July 26, it now emerges that it may be extended until August 8-9.

The government has a heavy agenda to be cleared containing of 19 bills including three crucial ones for which Ordinance are already in place. One of the crucial bills is relating to Triple Talaq. Though Amit Shah did not make a mention of the bills, it is clear that the government wants to set a record of sort by passing record number of legislation.

During the weekly meeting of party MPs, Amit Shah was the main speaker while the Prime Minister watched the proceedings without uttering a word. This was first time in recent times that the PM opted out and fielded his close confidante Amit Shah to do the talking. Amit Shah also asked the MPs to create a Panchvati at every polling booth area in their respective constituencies by roping five trees.

In a significant move, Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat gave a detailed presentation running into 22-minutes wherein he emphasised the importance of water conservation. The presentation said that water table in Maharashtra and Gujrat has gone up and Rajasthan stablised. But considering the challenges before the nation, water has to preserved on a war footing basis and gave detailed account of how Isreal had done it. He gave a global scenario on water and what India must do and what each MP can could do in his/her constituency.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi merely said, “There is a possibility of session being extended. You will be officially conveyed when a decision is taken."

Obviously, the government will discuss the issue before the Busines Advisory Committees of the two houses.

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Amit Shah Takes the Centre Stage

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Amit Shah Takes the Centre Stage

Calling the shots in Govt., Party & Parliament 

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, July 21

Union Home Minister Amit Shah may be number three in the Order of Precedence in the government. But the first time Union Minister & Member of Parliament is not only calling the shots in government but made a big mark in running the affairs in parliament too. No doubt, the absence of senior leader Arun Jaitley is felt by all. But Amit Shah has made an impact in no time with his quick decision making, no-nonsense style and straight forward approach. He is perhaps the only minister in the whole of government who speaks with authority leaving none in doubt that he derives it from none other than the PM. Amit Shah's writ runs in the party, government and now for  smooth running of Parliament too. The other day when the Opposition parties were creating a ruckus in the Rajya Sabha, Amit Shah conveyed to party managers that the house should not be adjourned for the day. Rather, the Opposition be tired out and adjournments be on hourly basis only. The strategy worked and the House ran smoothly after three adjournments.

When a few journalists covering the Home Ministry on a regular basis sought to know if their entry would also be restricted in North Block as was done by his counterpart Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Amit Shah shot back, “I am a large-hearted person. I don't impose such restrictions." No other minister would say this publicly. But Amit Shah doesn't minces words and believes in sending out a clear signal that he disapproves of such steps.

He is the first Union Minister in the Modi dispensation who ensured his two deputies to introduce various bills in both houses of parliament and even reply to debates. Amit Shah sat through the debates and intervened whenever required. But it was clear that he is promoting his juniors. Taking the cue, other senior ministers started doing the same now. Amit Shah even asked his juniors to reply to Parliamentary questions during the Question Hour. Both Ministers of state - Nityanand Rai or G Kishna Reddy - had not even dreamt of that they would be handling such key duties during their first term. The only time Amit Shah moved the motion was when Extension of President's rule in the state of Jammu & Kashmir was brought in the Parliament. Amit Shah is keen to solve the Kashmir & NRC issues and win West Bengal. He has made a mark during the first 50 days as Home Minister. If he is aggressive and straightforward, he loves to gossip and jokes in the Central Hall of Parliament too provided norms are followed by journalists.

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NCP to bail out BJP on Triple Talaq

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Exclusive report

NCP to bail out BJP on Triple Talaq

May abstain on voting in Rajya Sabha

Other parties also fall in line

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, July 22

In a surprising development, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has signaled to the ruling NDA that it will not create hurdled in the passage of the contentious Triple Talaq Bill. The signal from the NCP came as a big boost to the ruling BJP which has been struggling for the several sessions to get the Triple Talaq bill passed in the Rajya Sabha and resorting to the Ordinance route for two years. Though NCP is an alliance partner of the Congress and has been fighting Lok Sabha & Assembly polls in alliance. But its leadership has veered round to the view that any opposition on this bill will be negation of the mandate of the 2019 poll verdict.

A senior leader of the NCP told Lokmat on the condition of not being named that the party may not vote for the bill. “But one thing is clear... we will not vote against the bill.”

This stand of the NCP is music to the BJP's ears which is desperate to get the bill passed in the Rajya Sabha which has just 78 MPs in a House of 240. The NDA has 97 MPs including 3 nominated and four Independents. This does not include six MPs of the Janata Dal (U) which is opposed to the Bill. The AIADMK and Biju Janata Dal have indicated their support to the Triple Talaq Bill. These two parties together have 20 MPs in the Rajya Sabha and their support is very vital. With their support, the BJP will touch the figure of 117 without JD(U).

Highly placed sources say that YSR Congress (2), PDP of Jammu & Kashmir (2) and JD-S (1) will also abstain as they have their own problems in their respective states. Thus, nine MPs including four of the NCP will abstain bringing down the strength of the RS to 231.

With BJP mustering the support of 117 MPs in a house of 231, the bill can be passed without much difficulty. The BJP is pondering to extend the Parliament's current session for three days largely because it wants to pass the Triple Talaq bill.

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Priyanka Gandhi takes charge of UP Congress, Scindia demits UP (West) charge

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Priyanka Gandhi takes charge of UP Congress, Scindia demits UP (West) charge

Rahul Gandhi to return on July 22-23

Harish Gupta 

New Delhi, July 19 

After the resignation of Jyotiraditya Scindia as AICC General Secretary incharge of UP (West), Priyanka Gandhi has been entrusted with the task of looking after the entire UP. Until now, Priyanka Gandhi was the AICC general secretary incharge of UP (East). After Scindia's resignation, she has been asked to look after the whole of UP.

Though no formal orders have been issued by the AICC in this regard. But Congress president Rahul Gandhi, before his departure to the USA on Wednesday, asked Priyanka Gandhi to look after the entire state until further arrangements. Rahul Gandhi has approved several appointments including that PCC Chiefs of Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. It is also learnt that Rahul Gandhi will return to India on July 22-23 and the Congress Working Committee may meet thereafter. There is intense media speculation that Priyanka Gandhi may replace her brother as AICC president. A clamour is also growing in the party for her induction as many feel that a member of the Gandhi family can revive the party. In fact, many of the senior party leaders feel that an interim arrangement of appointing someone like Mallikarjun Kharge, Mukul Wasnik or Selja would only delay the revival of the party. They say that the Congress under the Gandhis had secured more than 11 crore votes in the May 2019 Lok Sabha polls and these can grow if Priyanka Gandhi is installed as party chief. Since Rahul Gandhi has firmly rebuffed suggestions of staging a come back, these sources say that only someone like Priyanka can take the party on the revival path. But Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is maintaining a studied silence. She has quietly taken the charge of the entire UP and held a marathon meeting of all the district presidents of UP Congress. She has already taken on the Yogi government head on. 

Perhaps, one will have to wait for a week to things to unfold in the Congress.

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Nitish Douses fire on controversial RSS circular

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Nitish Douses fire on controversial RSS circular

Alliance intact

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, July 18

Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (U) president Nitish Kumar swung into action to douse the fire which is rocking the alliance for the past some time over a circular issued by the state intelligence bureau.

The circular issued by the Bihar Police's Special Branch (intelligence wing) directed all district police officials to collect information on the RSS functionaries and its 17 affiliate bodies functioning in the state. The circular was issued on May 28 with the sign and seal of the SP of the Special Branch. The Special Branch is directly under the Chief Minister who is state's Home minister as well. The secret circular, however, surfaced last week and snowballied into a major controversy as BJP is a key ally. The letter directing DSPs to provide details of leaders of RSS and its 17 affiliates including their telephone numbers, addresses, facebook accounts etc etc.

The circular detailed surfaced at a time when differences have already surfaced over over number of berths to be given to the JD(U) in the Union Cabinet.

Now a detailed probe has been ordered by the Chief Minister into the controversial circular and SP may face problems too. Additional Director General of Police (Special Branch), G S Gangwar tried to control the damage, saying “the directive was not at the behest of the government... it was issued it without clearance.” Obviously, the government is trying to distance itself from tnhe circular full 50 days after it was issued. The home department is understood to have slapped a show-cause notice on him.

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BJP desperate to muster majority in Rajya Sabha

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Special report

BJP desperate to muster majority in Rajya Sabha

Opposition gets a taste of new kind of “Defections”

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, July 16

The Opposition parties are being dealt a body blow by the ruling BJP in Rajya Sabha which is way behind the majority mark in a house of 245 members. The BJP has reached the figure of 78 and will have to wait until 2022 to get a majority on its own. But BJP president and Union Home Minister Amit Shah is in no mood to wait for so long to get the crucial bills passed. It invented a new method to muster a majority in no time never heard of in parliamentary history so far.

While the defection of 4 of the six TDP MPs to the BJP took place last week, one MP of the Samajwadi Party, Neeraj Shekhar, resigned his seat. Shekhar joined the BJP after his resignation was accepted by the Rajya Sabha chairman yesterday itself. Now the BJP will bring him back to the Rajya Sabha on its ticket from UP where it has 325 MLAs in a house of 403. The Election Commission will issue the notification of byelection anytime next week. It now transpires that two more members of parliament belonging to the SP and BSP will quit in batches so that separate byelection is held for their seats. Since these MPs are due to retire in November 2020, the BJP has conveyed to them that it will re-nominate them and also consider giving them tickets in future for the Assembly polls due in 2022. Similarly, efforts are on to persuade some of the Opposition MPs in UP, Assam, Bihar, Maharashtra and in other states to quit their parties and join the BJP. They will be renominated after joining the BJP making the task easier for the party to get the legislations passed.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement today that the parliament's Monsoon session could be extended is an indication that huge agenda is waiting to be cleared and political management is at works. The BJP wants to cross the 100 seats mark this year itself so that there is no difficulty in getting the legislations passed opposed by the Congress.

Of course, the BJP has obtained a working majority in the Upper House as its allies & supporters account for 24-members including three nominated and four Independents. The 13 member AIADMK is also part of extended NDA family taking the tally to 115 in a house of 240 as it has five vacancies. The 7-member Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is also supporting the BJP in Rajya Dsabha. The BJP is also banking on the outside support of YSR Congress (2) in crucial times. Thus it has 124 MPs on its side. Once the JD (S)-Congress government falls in Karnataka, the lone JD(S) MP will switch side in Rajya Sabha too.

But the BJP wants to reach the comfortable mark on its own and won't mind implementing new techniques.

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1477 villages provided Water tankers in Maharashtra

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

1477 villages provided Water tankers in Maharashtra

New Delhi, July 15

The government informed the Rajya Sabha today that a total of 1684 water tankers are deployed for supply of drinking water to the 1477 villages / habitations in the Marathwada region as on July 5 this year.

The government said adequate numbers of tankers are deployed, as per norms and demand from local bodies. The State Government has issued comprehensive guidelines for tackling drinking water scarcity and district wise scarcity action plans have been prepared to take suitable measures to tackle the drinking waterscarcity.

In response to a question by a member, the Minister of state for Jal Shakti Ministry, Rattan Lal Kataria said, the measures include digging new borewells, repairs of existing hand pumps, requisition of private wells and bore wells, deepening of wells, sanction of new temporary piped water supply schemes, pipe water supply special repairs and water supply through tankers.

Kalraj Mishra made Himachal Governor

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Kalraj Mishra made Himachal Governor

Centre begins appointment of 10 new Governors

Lokmat broke the story on June 8

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, July 15

The process of appointment of governors in the Modi's second term began today with the retirement of O P Kohli as Governor of Gujrat.

Kohli was replaced by Acharya Devvrat who was Governor of Himachal Pradesh. In place of Acharya Devvrat, the Centre appointed Kalraj Mishra who was a Caibet Minister in the Modi previous term. Since he attained the age of 75 years, he was quit his post and did not contest the Lok Sabha polls either. The President, Ramnath Kovind issued the appointment orders of Governors today.

With the appointment of Kalraj Mishra, the process of appointment of new governors has begin, say sources in the government. Lokmat was the first to report on June 8 that new governors will be appointed in states who have completed five years of their tenure.

As many as four of the governors are due to retire in July itself beginning with Om Prakash Kohli whose term ended today. The Nagaland Governor Padmanabha Acharya will also complete his tenure on July 19 followed by UP Governor Ram Naik who is to retire on July 21. The West Bengal Governor Keshri Nath Tripathi completes his five year term on July 23. C Vidya Sagar Rao of Maharashtra is completing his five year tenure on August 30 while Mridula Sinha of Goa on August 31. Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala will complete his tenure on September 1 and Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh on September 4 and Kerala Govenor Justice P Sathasivam on September 5. A decision with regard to the longest serving governor of India ESL Narasimhan who is serving since December 2009 will also be settled later this year.

Bijoya Chakravarty (Assam), Kariya Munda (Jharkhand), Bhagat Singh Koshiyari (Uttrakhand), Bandaru Dattatreya (Andhra Pradesh), are some of the senior BJP leaders who did not contest the Lok Sabha polls are being considered for these posts. 

1+4 formula to end Congress crisis

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

1+4 formula to end Congress crisis

Four vice presidents under one Interim president 

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, July 12

Amidst contuning crisis in Karnataka, a formula is underway to resolve the vacuum in the 150 year grand old party. If reports are to be believed, final touches are being given to the “one plus four formula”

to end 50-day old crisis which began with the sudden resignation of Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

After a series of deliberations within the Gandhi family members involving Mrs Sonia Gandhi, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi and family loyalists like A K Antony, Dr Manmohan Singh and a couple of others, the 1+4 formula is finding favour.

This formula is that an interim president be appointed by the Congress working committee (CWC) until the organisational elections are completed as per the constitution of the party. It is now clear that the CWC meeting will be called sometime next week as the formula has taken a shape and nitty-gritty is being fixed. The CWC is the party's top decision making body and empowered to take all the decisions in the current crisis-ridden situation. The CWC may be held at the instance of Motilal Vora, senior-most general secretary of the party or Mukul Wasnik, who is currently general secretary (organisation).

With UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi firmly refusing to lead the party as interim president and Priyanka Gandhi is also being ruled out, Mallikarjun Kharge's name is finding favour. Since A K Antony firmly refused to don the mantle and Sushil Kumar Shinde has lagged behind, its Kharge who has emerged stronger given the situation. .

Once Kharge's name is decided, there will be four Vice Presidents under him representing four regions- East, West, North & South. This is what Rahul Gandhi is reported to have tossed the idea before his confidants when he met them last week.

One of the Vice presidents could be Priyanka Vadra (North), Gaurav Gogoi (North East), Mukul Wasnik (West) or Jyotiraditya Scindia and K C Venugopal (South). Venugopal was incharge of Kerala and Tamil Nadu during the Lok sabha polls and came out with flying colours.

There was also a suggestion that Capt. Amrinder Singh be brought in as Interim president. But he is disinclined due to poor health and quitting the CM's post at this juncture. Though there are many in the party who believe that his acceptability is larger at this juncture and he would be able to give a fitting reply to the BJP too. In the event of Priyanka Gandhi opting out, the name of Selja is doing the rounds.

Govt. Determined to pass Triple Talaq Bill

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Govt. Determined to pass Triple Talaq Bill

Trying to muster numbers in Rajya Sabha

JD (U) to Oppose it tooth & Nail

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, July 12

Irrespective of the cautioning by some saner voices in the NDA that the contentious Triple Talaq bill should not be pushed in the current Monsoon session of Parliament, the hawks in the ruling BJP are determined to push for the same.

Informed sources say that the BJP leadership is determined to ensure the passage of the fresh Triple Talaq Bill in this session itself. The debates on the Motion of Thanks on President's Address, Union Budget and a couple of ministries will be over by the middle of next week. At least 10 bills have been passed by the Lok Sabha so far and remaining agenda will also be achieved.

Sources in the government say that there is no move to repeal the Article 370 or revoke 35A is on the cards in the near future. But the government won't compromise on its commitment to pass the Triple Talaq merely because its major ally, Janata Dal (U) is opposed to it.

A senior Cabinet minister who is dealing with the issue in the government told Lokmat on the condition of not being quoted, “Its our commitment to pass the Triple Talaq Bill and we are duty bound after the massive mandate.”

No doubt, the BJP has enough numbers in the Lok Sabha for the smooth passage of the bill on its own without the support of its allies. The BJP has 303 MPs in the Lok Sabha in a house of 542 and doesn't need JD(U)'s 17 MPs. However, it will face huge problem in the Rajya Sabha where it has 76 MPs in the House of 244. It has the support of Shiv Sena (3), Akalis (3), Nominated (3) and Independents (4) taking the tally to 89. The JD (U) which has only six MPs in the Rajya Sabha, has made it clear to the BJP leadership that it will not support the Triple Talaq Bill in Parliament, rather it will vote against it if it was brought before the House. Ever since the BJP-JD(U) differences came to the surface over induction of into the Union Cabinet, the situation is worrisome. The JD(U) leadership refused to accept the proposal of sending its token representative in the Modi government and wanted proportionate representation.

Even the other BJP ally, the AIADMK which has 13 MPs in the Rajya Sabha, has signaled that it may stay away rather than support the bill.

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BJP votes for TMC,

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

BJP votes for TMC, 

Congress faces humiliating defeat

Voting was for ESIC Board member

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, July 10

In an unprecedented move, the BJP members of the Rajya Sabha overwhelmingly voted for arch-rival TMC candidate Dola Sen today.

The BJP high command directed its MPs that they should vote for the TMC candidate Dola Sen who was embroiled in a multi-corner contest for the membership of the Employees State Insurance Corporation. A member of the Rajya Sabha is chosen on the board of the ESIC. The BJP had not fielded its candidate and the Opposition parties were supposed to field a common candidate. But the Congress refused to support the TMC candidate Dola Sen and thought it will grab the post on the basis of sheer numbers. Dola sen, however, got 90 votes out of 156 total votes polled. Interestingly, the TMC has only 13 votes in the rajya Sabha. Pradeep bhattacharya of Congress faced worst humiliation when he lost. The CPM had also fielded E Karim who polled 8 votes.

This exposed chinks in the armory of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and the BJP took full advantage.