The Central Government is facing problems in parliamentary management, with Bihar elections turning out to be the greatest hurdle in reaching consensus on the GST Bill. Bihar elections are scheduled for October-November, and before that no party wants to position itself as being with the BJP or against the Congress. Reliable sources say Bihar elections are also posing as a roadblock in completely isolating the Congress. In Bihar, the grand alliance is the result of Congress efforts; RJD and JDU are both under the influence of the Congress. Though, NCP is not happy with the seat-sharing arrangement and is all set to exit the grand alliance, it expects the Congress to help it. Apart from this, Mulayam Singh Yadav is also associated with the grand alliance in one or the other way. Though it is also true that his party is not happy in Bihar.
The Opposition party of Tamil Nadu is also trying for an alliance with the Congress; DMK has four MPs in Rajya Sabha. If the BJP directly attacks the Congress, then several parties come in support of the latter. That is why parties that are in favour of the GST Bill also want it to be deferred till Bihar polls. However, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley wants it implemented from April 1, 2016, at any cost. It’s clear he can’t wait for the Winter Session of Parliament.
NITISH OOZES CONFIDENCE
CM of Bihar Nitish Kumar is showing tremendous confidence. He has rejected the ultimatum of NCP, challenging the party to do whatever it wants. Nitish said NCP would not get more than three seats. He refused to give NCP even a single seat from JDU’s quota. Despite all this, Nitish is least bothered. He also rejected the challenges posed by Asaduddin Owaisi. He doesn’t think that secular votes will be divided if Owaisi’s MIM fights elections.
The same confidence is being seen in lalu Prasad Yadav towards Mulayam’s Samajwadi Party (SP). No seat has been left for SP, and when this issue was raised at the meeting convened for seat-sharing arrangement, lalu said with full confidence that he would talk to his samdhi Mulayam. Now SP has rebelled in Bihar.
However, lalu and Nitish are not affected. In fact, they are of the view that this time there is no chance of division of minority votes. This time, NDA is in a direct fight with the JDU-RJD and Congress alliance, and no third front or third party is in the fray.
The situation is same in Delhi, where the Congress has become irrelevant. lalu and Nitish think that Muslim votes will come to them, so there is no need to be afraid of either SP or NCP. They think that even Owaisi’s party will not get a single vote and his image will be tarnished.
RAJYA SABHA MANAGERS
Parliamentary managers of the Central Government and the BJP have been roped in to manage 2/3rd majority in Rajya Sabha. To get the GST Bill passed, the Government will need 2/3rd majority from the members present and voting in Parliament. This means 163 votes will be required, and that will be possible only when all parties except the Congress and left vote in favour of the Government. The Congress and left together have 78 MPs in Rajya Sabha.
The Government managers may prepare a strategy to coax some of the parties to be absent from the House; in that case also parties present in the House will have to vote in favour of the Bill. This means it is necessary that barring the Congress and left, either all parties remain absent from voting or vote in favour of the Bill.
So, the Finance Minister and parliamentary managers of the BJP and Government are working on this strategy. Jaitley has spoken to Jayalalithaa and Mamata Banerjee and has also been assured by Mulayam. JDU and BJD are ready to support the Bill. Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have some reservations about the Bill and if the Government rectifies some points, parties of these States will also be ready to support the Bill. Then a Parliament session can be called in the first week of September.
CONGRESS CONFUSED IN UP
The Congress is confused on what to do in Uttar Pradesh. Party leaders are not able to chalk out a strategy for the State. In-charge for UP, Madhusudan Mistry, and State President Nirmal Khatri have to be removed, but the decision is stuck for the past six months. Sources say Mistry will continue to be the General Secretary, but responsibilities of UP will be taken from him.
Sources linked to the preparations of Mission UP of Rahul Gandhi say earlier it was decided that he would start his campaign from Varanasi. After a rally in the PM’s constituency, Rahul was to hold padyatras in Eastern UP. But now this proposal has been kept aside and a new plan is awaiting Rahul’s approval.
Now it is being said that Rahul’s campaign may start from Western UP. He would participate in the party’s session scheduled for September 10-11 in Mathura. Some of his close associates are also preparing a programme ofpadyatra for that period.
Probably, the Congress wants to advertise its victory over the land Bill from Western UP. It was from Bhatta Parsaul in Western UP that Rahul had started his movement for farmers.
AAP FORAY INTO PUNJAB
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has started its preparations for Punjab Assembly Elections. In Punjab, elections will be held in 2017, but before that Assembly Elections in five States are scheduled for next year.
However, AAP has decided to not fight in any other State except Punjab. It will not go to North-East, will support Mamata in West Bengal and Nitish in Bihar. So, its focus is solely on Punjab. After that, the party will gear up for Maharashtra.
Meanwhile, AAP has sought the work account of its four MPs in Punjab, and that is why there is frenzy within the party. Apart from that, fundraising activities have also started. Attempts to get foreign funds are also being made, like in Delhi. A lot of people from Punjab stay abroad and AAP has started contacting them.
Film actress Gul Panag is playing an important role in this. Gul has an Army background; her father is lt General (Retd) HS Panag. There is big group of AAP members in Punjab which considers Gul as a strong contender, but many party leaders are not happy with this.
Bhagwant Mann, who is an MP of AAP, considers himself to be the strongest contender, and so does senior leader HS Phoolka. So, it seems only obvious that there will be infighting among these three leaders. the maharashtra mess
In Maharashtra, the Congress has somehow won the required seats to get the status of the main Opposition party. Despite this, infighting within the party has increased and many veterans are creating problems for new State President Ashok Chavan. Many senior leaders of Maharashtra Congress are said to have complained about him to Sonia and Rahul.
Chavan’s working style is different; he has left the responsibilities of Mumbai on Sanjay Nirupam and doesn’t interfere in his work domain. Similarly, responsibilities of Vidarbha are with Manikrao Thakre, who belongs to the area.
All this has not gone down well with some Congress leaders, who believe Chavan and Thakre are on a mission to sideline them. So, they have complained about the working style of Chavan to the party high command. They have also alleged that Chavan and Thakre are working against the interest of the party, claiming that the two leaders are working in the interest of the BJP.
It is being said that some leaders close to Rahul are behind all this because one of them wants to become the President of Maharashtra Congress.
JDU’S SECUlAR CONFERENCE
Before the lok Sabha Elections, JDU had organised a secular conference at New Delhi’s Talkatora Maidan. JDU had taken the initiative for that and leaders of the left Front had participated. SP and NCP were also participants of the conference. Mamata skipped the conference due to the presence of the left. Coincidentally, all parties that participated in the conference were wiped out from the lok Sabha; JDU, SP, NCP and left were defeated badly.
Now, there is another secular conference before Bihar elections. This time also JDU has taken the initiative. Earlier, NCP leader Sharad Pawar tried to reach out to Arvind Kejriwal, but he didn’t go to his house. So, on September 22, a secular conference will be held and Sharad Yadav has scheduled a meeting of all participating parties on that day.
Apart from JDU, SP and NCP, TMC, left and AAP are expected to participate in the meeting. But the question is how will Mamata participate in the event where leaders of CPI and CPM will be presentIJ Also, how will Kejriwal participate along with PawarIJ It should be noted that the Delhi CM had put Pawar’s name on the list of 15 most corrupt leaders in India.