BSP to abstain from discussions, voting on NCT Amendment Bill in Parliament

Surprising the Opposition, the Telangana-based Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) – which was not part of the Opposition’s unity platform – had on Thursday joined other Opposition MPs in staging a walkout from a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the Rajya Sabha in protest against the inclusion of a Bill to replace the controversial Delhi ordinance in the official business of the House.

While the Opposition coalition INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) and the BJP-led NDA are already in two camps, two other so-called neutral parties – the YSRCP which is in power in Andhra Pradesh and the BJD which rules Odisha – have not yet clarified their stance on the matter. Sources in the Opposition claimed that the Bill could be stalled if these two parties vote against it or abstain.

If these Opposition parties, which are usually careful to not rub the BJP the wrong way, abstain, it will boost the the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s effort to stall the Bill. The legislation is expected to come up in the Monsoon Session to replace the central ordinance.

The ordinance was described by the AAP as a violation of the principle of federalism by sidelining an elected government and handing over control of civil servants to the Lieutenant Governor.

While the BJP with its 303 MPs enjoys a clear majority in the Lok Sabha and would have no trouble getting the NCT Bill passed in the House, in the Rajya Sabha which currently has 238 MPs, it could find it harder if the non-BJP parties come together. The BJP plus allies together have 111 MPs, including nominated members. The Opposition is only marginally behind at 106 members — barring the BJD, YSRCP, BSP, TDP and JD(S).