New Delhi: As the government preps for a tough battle in the Rajya Sabha over the anti-corruption Lokpal Bill, the focal point of its concern is a key partner, Mamata Banerjee. She wants 14 pages of the Bill which deal with Lokayuktas or anti-corruption agencies at the state level to be dropped because she believes this section violates the autonomy of states. In the Rajya Sabha, the government is a minority. Opposition from an ally - or Ms Banerjee's plans to ask for an amendment - will create a logistical and PR nightmare for the government. Pranab Mukherjee, the government's main trouble-shooter, is meeting with Ms Banerjee's MPs now to petition a change in stand. (Read: Mayawati and Mulayam's parties walk out)
The Lokpal Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha last night, but the vote thrust open the UPA's deficiencies- its weak numbers were compounded by poor strategy. The bill that creates a national ombudsman to fight corruption among politicians and bureaucrats skidded past the finish line, only because leaders like Mulayam Singh Yadav and Lalu Prasad Yadav walked out with their MPs. That reduced the strength of the house and the half-way mark the government had to cross. But another bill to grant the Lokpal constitutional status was defeated, allowing the opposition to demand the government's resignation. "The PM has lost the moral right to remain in office," said the BJP's Yashwant Sinha. (Lokpal Bill passed in Lok Sabha, but no constitutional status)
To recover from the debacle, the government has to navigate a smoother journey for the Lokpal Bill in the Rajya Sabha.
In its original form, the Lokpal Bill made it compulsory for state governments to replicate the Lokpal model with "Lokauyktas." During yesterday's debate in the Lok Sabha, the BJP said the Bill's view on Lokayuktas is a gross violation of the principles of federalism. In a rare intervention, the Prime Minister offered a spirited defence, arguing that federalism should not serve as an impediment to combating corruption. But after an impassioned argument by Kalyan Banerjee, who is from Ms Banejee's party, the government amended the language of the Bill before it was put to vote. Now, state governments have the right to decide whether to notify the Lokpal Bill.
Ms Banerjee has not been placated by that change so far. If she does move an amendment that is accepted in the Upper House, the Lokpal Bill will have to be sent back to the Lower House for reconsideration, since the bill that was approved there will have been modified. A joint session of both Houses could also become necessary.
To avoid that, the government has to figure out how to win Ms Banerjee over. And it has bought more time to work on its fragile numbers in the Upper House; sources cite "procedural delays" for the government not tabling the Bill in the Rajya Sabha today after all.
The day is being devoted to a flurry of negotiations. If Mulayam Singh Yadav's SP and Mayawati's BSP can be convinced to either support the Bill or walk out of the Rajya Sabha, the overall strength of the House for the vote will fall from 245 to 222 and the government will have a healthy majority of 114 votes. The BSP and SP cannot be seen to be openly strengthening the Congress - all three parties will fight tooth and nail in the UP elections in February.
The opposition is also looking to unite. The BJP and the Left are said to have a broad consensus on key provisions of the Bill - both want more autonomy for the CBI, for example, and are holding their own negotiations with regional parties that rule states, like Orissa's BJD. A unifying cause for the BJP and parties like the BJD could be the controversial clause on the Lokayuktas.
The Lokpal Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha last night, but the vote thrust open the UPA's deficiencies- its weak numbers were compounded by poor strategy. The bill that creates a national ombudsman to fight corruption among politicians and bureaucrats skidded past the finish line, only because leaders like Mulayam Singh Yadav and Lalu Prasad Yadav walked out with their MPs. That reduced the strength of the house and the half-way mark the government had to cross. But another bill to grant the Lokpal constitutional status was defeated, allowing the opposition to demand the government's resignation. "The PM has lost the moral right to remain in office," said the BJP's Yashwant Sinha. (Lokpal Bill passed in Lok Sabha, but no constitutional status)
To recover from the debacle, the government has to navigate a smoother journey for the Lokpal Bill in the Rajya Sabha.
In its original form, the Lokpal Bill made it compulsory for state governments to replicate the Lokpal model with "Lokauyktas." During yesterday's debate in the Lok Sabha, the BJP said the Bill's view on Lokayuktas is a gross violation of the principles of federalism. In a rare intervention, the Prime Minister offered a spirited defence, arguing that federalism should not serve as an impediment to combating corruption. But after an impassioned argument by Kalyan Banerjee, who is from Ms Banejee's party, the government amended the language of the Bill before it was put to vote. Now, state governments have the right to decide whether to notify the Lokpal Bill.
Ms Banerjee has not been placated by that change so far. If she does move an amendment that is accepted in the Upper House, the Lokpal Bill will have to be sent back to the Lower House for reconsideration, since the bill that was approved there will have been modified. A joint session of both Houses could also become necessary.
To avoid that, the government has to figure out how to win Ms Banerjee over. And it has bought more time to work on its fragile numbers in the Upper House; sources cite "procedural delays" for the government not tabling the Bill in the Rajya Sabha today after all.
The day is being devoted to a flurry of negotiations. If Mulayam Singh Yadav's SP and Mayawati's BSP can be convinced to either support the Bill or walk out of the Rajya Sabha, the overall strength of the House for the vote will fall from 245 to 222 and the government will have a healthy majority of 114 votes. The BSP and SP cannot be seen to be openly strengthening the Congress - all three parties will fight tooth and nail in the UP elections in February.
The opposition is also looking to unite. The BJP and the Left are said to have a broad consensus on key provisions of the Bill - both want more autonomy for the CBI, for example, and are holding their own negotiations with regional parties that rule states, like Orissa's BJD. A unifying cause for the BJP and parties like the BJD could be the controversial clause on the Lokayuktas.
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