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.

Ends 

Fly on the wall : Sushma Sermon to BJP MPs creates a flutter

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Sushma Sermon to BJP MPs creates a flutter

 External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is very cautious of what she speaks and does. She plays so safe that people rather wonder if she is the same Sushma who used to bat on the front foot all the time and fire-brand speaker. But ever since she became a Minister under the Modi dispensation, she is a changed person. However, things are changing lately and Sushma created a stir at the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting on Tuesday last. She told the hundreds of BJP Mps present at the venue that they should not be seen in Delhi after August 10. They should create a buzz in every village and town about Modiji's schemes and success stories and achievements of the Modi government. She said no MP should be seen in Delhi after august 10 and stay in their respective constituencies. Sushma who spoke immediately after Surface Transport and Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari sent a clear message to the Mps that they should now focus on the constituencies alone. The MPs were surprised to hear the sermon coming from Sushma who virtually declared that Monsoon could be the last session of Parliament amidst buzz that Lok Sabha polls may be advanced to November-December when polls are due in four states; Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram. Surprisingly, neither BJP president Amit Shah and nor the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi contradicted her when they spoke subsequently. The silence of Modi and Shah on this tricky issue made MP s worried too. Since Sushma is not known for jumping the gun, the MP s have no clue as what they should do next ? Better Quit the Capital after August 10 as directed by Sushma Behenji.

Rahul ready for a big hair-cut

Congress president Rahul Gandhi made it clear to top party leaders that he was all for alliances. But they should keep in mind that these alliances would be limited to four states only; namely, Maharashtra, UP, Bihar and Tamil Nadu. In other states, the party may have some adjustment of seats. But these four states alone account for 208 seats out of 543 Lok Sabha constituencies. In these four states the Congress is expected to contest, if the alliances were put in place, around 50-54 seats. Sources say that the Congress would contest 22 seats in Maharashtra under a new arrangement being worked out, 10 in UP, 12 in Bihar and 10 in Tamil Nadu. Rahul reported to have told P Chidambaram categorically when he advocated for country-wide alliances to defeat PM Modi. Rahul said these four states, the party would enter into alliances and in other states there may be seat adjustment. He did not name any other state. But in west Bengal, the Congress will have seat adjustment with Mamata Banerjee and not an alliance and would contest 8 out of 42. This means, out of 250 seats, the Congress will contest 60 seats only. Mamata called on Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday and discussed the length the contours of broad-based understanding. But it is clear the Congress is ready to take a big hair-cut to ensure the defeat of Modi in 2019. Congress under Sonia Gandhi may have contested 461 Lok Sabha seats across the country. But things are different under young Rahul Gandhi who is realistic and quick in decision-making now. If things go as planned, the Congress is now mentally ready to contest 265-280 Lok Sabha seats. In Kerala too, it is already in alliance and with Mayawati seeking seats outside UP, the Congress tally may come down further. But one thing is sure; the strike rate of the Congress-led alliance will be far more damaging than what is anticipated.

Dy. Chairman's room gone too !

With no election of Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha in sight as the government not inclined to hold it due to lack of numbers, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu moved a step further. The VP explored the possibility if a consensus for the post of Dy Chairman can be evolved and government tried hard. Finally, the government told VP that it won't to possible to do so during the Monsoon session of Parliament. It now transpires that VP has taken control of the Dy. Chairman's spacious room for the time being and put it to some better use. A dining table with a dozen chairs were put there and a temporary partition was created. Since the Vice President has to sit for long hours in the absence of Deputy Chairman, he has to sit in the House for long hours. Therefore, he decided to put up a bed to take afternoon nap in the Parliament House itself rather than driving down to his own residence at 6 Maulana Azad Road. In any case, there is no hurry to fill the post either as VP is doubling up for Dy. Chairman as well.

Amit Shah's 51% vote share dream

In the midst of contradictory signals, BJP chief  Amit Shah made it clear that there will be no early elections either for the Lok Sabha. Shah was quoted as saying that the BJP was all for simultaneous polls of Lok Sabha & state Assemblies. But unless there is a consensus or the BJP has required majority in Parliament, the proposal won't be implemented on a piece meal basis. “There is no question of early elections, we will not do give up power even for one hour as people have given us the mandate for 5 years,” he said to his core group team. Giving logic behind his plans, Shah said the BJP is targeting for 51 % votes in the Lok Sabha. He said that the BJP polled 47% votes in Kairana Lok Sabha bye-polls which is toughest seat for the party in UP. The combined Opposition may have won the seat. But the BJP improved its vote tally from 41% in 2014 in Kairana to 47%. Amit Shah is not worried over Opposition unity and reportedly said, “we are happy that Rahul Gandhi is being projected as PM, it benefits us since he is no match to Modi. It will give BJP 5% edge during the polls.  Amit Shah wriggled out figures after figures and said, the booth level committees of the BJP workers are effectively function in 7 lakh booths out of 9 lakh booths in the country. A batch of 25 workers on every booth is working and operations and connected with the headquarters on a daily basis. The party has a data-base of 14.3 crore members with their mobile telephone numbers, voter cards etc. The BJP is connected with them through SMSes. But he had no answer how he would touch 51% votes in 2019 when the party's vote share in 2014 was 31% votes. Secondly, in 2014, the Opposition parties were divided and Congress was in a disarray.

Fly on the wall : When Venkaiah Naidu offered to quit

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

When Venkaiah Naidu offered to quit

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu stunned the leaders of all parties when they assembled in his chamber in Rajya Sabha soon after the House was adjourned within minutes of its meeting in the morning. He created a flutter when he told Leader of the House and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley that he would not brook any indiscipline in the House and if leaders are not satisfied by his style of conducting the House, they are “free to elect a new Chairman.” There was a pin drop silence in Naidu's chamber who is also the chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Jaitley was pleading with Naidu long with other leaders that he should be lenient and allow members to vent their feelings rather than adjourning the house for the day within minutes of his meeting. The leaders reminded Naidu that he himself had been part of this process for several decades and such venting and rhetoric by Mps is part of the parliamentary practices. But Naidu firmly told them,”Yes, I have been part of it and seen it for decades. But this is not the way the House to function. The Mps should allow the house to run in a proper and disciplined manner and set an example. If they want to make noise, then house is not the forum. They are free to do it outside. I cannot allow this and if you are not agreeable to it, you better elect a new chairman.” There was silence of the grave and the meeting ended. Since then, Naidu has been adjourning the House immediately after members troop into th well of the house. When the matter was discussed with the PM and BJP chief Amit Shah, they shrugged it off saying its between the chair and the members.

Is BJP scared of Lok Sabha bye-polls ?

It was expected that Lok Sabha bye-polls will be announced for at least three Lok Sabha constituencies - Kairana in UP and Gondiya-Bhandara and Palghar in Maharashtra along with the Karnataka Assembly polls. The Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra fell vacant three months ago and Kairana seat fell vacant in February after the death of sitting BJP MP Hukum Singh. The bye-poll for Anantnag Lok Sabha seat in J&K is not being held due to security reasons and Nagaland bye-poll can wait as Chief Minister Rio has not quit his seat as yet. The Election Commission's decision not to hold bye-polls in Maharashtra and Kairana surprised the Opposition and some even blame the EC for playing into the hands of the ruling BJP. Sources in the BJP say technically, Kairana bye-poll still has four months to go. Even the bye-polls for two Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra will fall due only in June-July. Insiders say that the BJP doesn't want to test the ground in these bye-polls in UP & Maharashtra as defeat is staring it. Better delay it on one ground or the other and hold it along with the three state Assembly polls in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhatisgarh in December.

Rahul in no hurry for new CWC

Congress president Rahul Gandhi is playing safe. Rather than over-hauling the party in one go he has adopted a slow & steady approach. He is picking up new PCC chiefs in states selectively and deferred the re-constitution of the all powerful Congress Working Committee. It now transpires that the move has been deferred until the polls for the Karnataka Assembly. While the old CWC has become defunct with the election of the new president, Rahul Gandhi has decided to continue with the old body. He intends to induct a couple of members without touching the old body, at least for now. Perhaps, the scion of the Gandhi family doesn't want to kick up a row by sending oldies out and infuse new blood into the CWC.

Now “Bal Divas” under BJP scanner

November 14, the birthday of late Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru is celebrated by children across the country as “Children's Day”. But even that may be a thing of the past if a proposal mooted by BJP Mps in accepted by the government. BJP's Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, a Lok Sabha MP from Delhi has initiated a move that the practice of observing November 14 as Bal Divas be abandoned. Instead, the Children's Day be celebrated on December 20 when the two sons of Guru Gobind Singh were bricked alive after the outer wall of the fort was pulled down and his two sons were made to stand in the gap thus created. The signature drive is going at a full speed and the BJP M Ps intend to give a memorandum to the Prime Minister in this regard.

Modi's poser make ministers run for a cover

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has the immense capacity to surprise his Cabinet colleagues. At a recent Cabinet meeting he tossed a question to his Cabinet Ministers if they are aware of printing presses functioning under their respective ministries and departments. No one had a clue as to why the question was raised and none of them had a ready answer. They had no idea either about the existence of printing presses under their ministries. Modi issued a sermon that details of all the printing presses be sent to his office within a week and as soon as the information landed, directions came within the next 24 hours. Modi wanted that all printing presses be merged and modernized. It was discovered that there are as many as 17 Government of India Presses (GIPs) including three Text Book Printing Presses (TBPs) located at Mysuru, Chandigarh & Bhubaneswar are functioning. No one had a clue about their performance and outcome. It was decided that all be merged into five and modernized with state of the art printing technology. The PMO was worried over the rising cost of contract work given to outside agencies at a hefty price. It was directed that all ministries must shut down their printing presses and only five such will remain functional. Railway Minister Piyush Goyal was given a free hand to over see 14 printing presses under his ministry. Goyal announced that all its printing presses will be shut down. But he had a tough time as two major employees unions raised a banner of revolt alleging that the move is paving the way for handing over prime land to private players for commercial exploitation. He had a tough time in persuading the unions to agree to the transition to digital services with increasingly less requirement of paper-based communication. He also promised that the staff working at these units will be retained and redeployed with new training. Modi goes into every detail and Ministers do everything to make the boss happy. !

All eyes on Gujrat’s three RS seats

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Special report

All eyes on Gujrat’s three RS seats

Anandiben Patel Vice President contender ?

  

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, March 31

  

The Capital is agog with intense speculation that BJP president Amit Shah and Anandiben Patel, former Gujrat Chief Minister may quit as MLA after the Presidential polls due to be held in July this year.

Since MLAs in states along with MPs constitute electorate college for the Presidential polls, both have chosen to stay put. But the moment presidential poll is over, they will quit. Interestingly, both will have their own reasons to quit their respective seats in the Gujrat Assembly.

Highly placed sources close to the BJP president say that Amit Shah will prefer to come to the Rajya Sabha in August when biennial polls for three RS seats will be held in Gujrat. BJP’s Smriti Irani, Union Textiles Minister, and Dilipbhai Pandya ill be completing their six year terms as MPs from Gujrat. Ahmad Patel of the Congress will also complete his term in the Rajya Sabha. Given the composition of the State Assembly, the BJP will be able to retain its two seats while the Congress will get one seat easily.

While Amit Shah coming to the Rajya Sabha is considered a foregone conclusion, it’s the second seat that has led to intense political speculation within the party. While a section of the BJP says that Anandiben Patel may be brought in Rajya Sabha for the second seat and get a Cabinet berth and Smriti Irani may move to UP to occupy the seat to be vacated by Manohar Parrikar who is now Chief Minister Goa. Parrikar is Rajya Sabha MP from UP at present.

But what has caused enormous interest in political circles is the talk that Anandiben Patel may even be brought in as Vice President of India. The BJP and NDA have a clear majority to get its own candidate elected as Vice President. Though various names are being mentioned for the post including that of M Venkiah Naidu, Minister for Urban Development, Manipur Governor Najma Heptulla, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Speaker of the Lok Sabha Sumitra Mahajan, Social Justice Minister Thawar Chand Gahlot, P Sadasivam, former Chief Justice of India and Governor of Kerala and others. But Anandben Patel’s claim to the post is stronger compared to others, these sources say.

She was removed as Chief Minister and has been cooling her heels quietly for long. She herself is a Patidar and was considered to PM Modi who anointed her as his successor in Gujrat. Since Gujrat Assembly polls will be round the corner, her elevation will help the BJP during the elections as well.