The Hindu Business Line : Parliament session in times of State poll results

The extended session of Parliament begins today (Wednesday) in exciting political circumstances on the eve of Assembly election results that could alter the power equation at the Centre. Going by pre-election surveys and exit polls, Kerala and West Bengal are likely to have Left front governments.

The irony of the situation is that these predicted victories are going to be at the cost of the Congress, the leading constituent of the UPA government at the Centre. Expected to defeat the Congress are the Left Parties, which are supporting the UPA from outside.

This is bound to embolden the Left to protest louder against government actions it does not approve of. . It will also try to put the Government on the mat for the expected rise in the prices of petroleum products.

In Assam, too, the Congress is not predicted to retain power with the exit polls pointing to a hung Assembly. However, in New Delhi, all eyes are on Tamil Nadu, where the DMK-led coalition is expected to regain power, though the last word cannot be said till the first results start coming in, tomorrow (Thursday).

Office-for-profit issue

Parliament is likely to resolve the office-of-profit issue with a Bill to amend the Prevention of Disqualification Act that led to the Congress president, Ms Sonia Gandhi's resignation from the Lok Sabha. It is likely to be introduced and considered for passage during the session that ends on May 23.

The issue has troubled all political parties, which have many members holding offices at the Central or the State levels that disqualify them from being legislators. The Government is quite determined to thrash out the issue and hopes that a consensus will emerge. The Budget session had ended abruptly, on March 23, when the Opposition prevented any work over the Government's reported move to promulgate an ordinance on the office-of-profit issue. Another issue the Government is likely to tackle is that of witnesses in court often turning hostile and making a mockery of the legal process. It is likely to consider an amendment to the law to ensure that witnesses do not turn hostile.

The move comes after witnesses in several important cases — including Zahira Sheikh, key witness in Gujarat's Best Bakery massacre trial, and witnesses to the shooting of model Jessica Lal in New Delhi — turned hostile.

The first day of the session will be marked by obituary references and adjournments. The Lok Sabha lost two members — Mehboob Zahidi and A. B. A. Ghani Khan Choudhury, former union minister from West Bengal. The Rajya Sabha lost senior BJP leader Pramod Mahajan.

The Speaker, Mr Somnath Chatterjee, met leaders of parliamentary parties on Tuesday to enlist their cooperation in ensuring the smooth functioning of Parliament. However, it is going to be anything but smooth.

Worrying issues

Price rise, including of petro-products, the power and water shortage in northern India, sealing and demolition drive in New Delhi, the probe into the Volcker report, talks on Siachen and the killing of Hindus in Jammu and Kashmir are some issues likely to be raised by the NDA. The BJP plans to demand discussions under various rules, including an adjournment motion.

UPA circles are also worried about the statement of the DMK chief, Mr M. Karunanidhi, that the DMK will opt out of the UPA if the MDMK continues to be part of the ruling coalition after the election results.

It is difficult to see the Congress asking the MDMK to leave the UPA as the southern party was a pre-poll ally of the Congress in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections. It is another matter if the MDMK walks out on its own.

Another factor worrying the UPA is the reported arm-twisting of the Tatas by the IT Minister, Mr Dayanidhi Maran. The main Opposition — the BJP and the AIADMK — will, no doubt, play up this issue in the coming session, which is going to be stormy.

(The author is a New Delhi-based freelance journalist. Feedback can be sent to rajamani_rc@yahoo.co.uk)