Frosty Winter session looms, fate of key Bills uncertain

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) can expect a frosty Winter Session of Parliament after National Democratic Alliance (NDA) bit the dust in the Bihar assembly elections. The dramatic victory of Grand Alliance may seal the fate of important bills as the NDA is still in a minority in Rajya Sabha. Notably, there are about 64 bills, including the controversial Land Acquisition Legislation and GST, pending in Parliament at various stages.

Though RJD chief Lalu Prasad spoke on the nationwide repercussions of the Bihar polls, the very first impact of the NDA’s electoral loss in Bihar would be visible in less than two weeks when the House meets for the Winter Session, which is expected to commence any day after November 19. Floor management for the NDA will be a rather tricky proposition. 

After winning state assembly elections in Maharashtra, Jammu & Kashmir, Haryana and Jharkhand, BJP leaders pulled out all stops to swing it in Bihar. “Knowing fully well that the Bihar results would have a major impact on the national political stage, BJP pitch-forked Prime Minister Narendra Modi into the poll arena to correct the NDA arithmetic in the Upper House, but their strategies failed badly,” a senior political commentator said. Key Bills such as GST Bill (122nd Amendment Bill); Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013 and Whistleblowers’ Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2015 are still hanging. Apart these legislations, there are some Bills like Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2014; Regional Rural Banks (Amendment) Bill, 2014 and Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Amendment Bill, 2014 which have been passed in Lok Sabha, but are awaiting the approval of Rajya Sabha to become  law.

Other important Bills like the Nuclear Safety Regulatory Authority Bill, 2011 which were introduced by the then UPA government but are yet to be passed by Parliament.

The government has a majority in Lok Sabha, but does not have the requisite numbers in Rajya Sabha, which have resulted in the non-passage of many Bills. As of now, NDA has a numerical strength of 65 out of 245 seats in Rajya Sabha, while UPA has an edge in the House with 102 members, including 10 members nominated by President during its tenure.