G RAM G Bill: Disquiet in NDA ranks too, leaders hope govt will send to panel

However, when it comes to the VB-G RAM G Bill, BJP insiders admitted that states, including those ruled by the party and its NDA partners, were uneasy about the financial implications and the potential impact in rural areas.

“Yes, the states are unhappy. No state wants to add to its burden, especially those awaiting pending GST dues. BJP-ruled states have no option but to silently accept the Bill. But the Opposition can use it as a weapon against us. Hence, there is a view that it must be discussed in detail by a parliamentary panel so that the government can project it as a much-needed reform,” said a former minister.

A leader from an NDA constituent claimed the BJP had assured its allies that the Bill would be sent to a parliamentary panel, either a Joint Committee or a Standing Committee.

Pointing out that many states struggle to fulfil even the existing 100-day guarantee, another MP from a key NDA constituent said, “How is it going to be a feasible scheme if you are reducing the Centre’s share while increasing the number of days (to 125 days)? MGNREGA has remained one of the most popular government schemes in rural areas.”

Echoing the concerns, TDP floor leader in the Lok Sabha, Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, said his party was conscious of the need to make changes to MGNREGA but hoped the Centre would address concerns about funding.

“Over the years, consultations with various stakeholders have indicated that the scheme needs improvement and reform. Based on these views, both inside and outside Parliament, changes have been made, such as increasing the workdays from 100 to 125, while also giving states the freedom to choose the kind of work they undertake. We have been working with the government on various schemes. The Union Government has come forward to help us whenever we asked for it, and we expect the same to happen in this case as well,” he said.

Govt keen to push Bill through

However, despite objections from the Opposition and reservations within its ranks, the Treasury Benches said during the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting of the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday that the Centre was keen to pass the Bills during the Winter Session, which is scheduled to conclude this Friday.

The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed both the Repealing and Amending Bill, 2025, and the Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Bill, 2025, and it was decided at the BAC meeting that the Upper House would take them up for approval on Wednesday.

According to BJP leaders, the government also wants to get the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India Bill, 2025 (the Atomic Energy Bill), and the VB-G RAM G Bill passed in the next two days. Although the government has allocated time for discussion on both on Thursday, sources said Opposition leaders demanded that both be sent to parliamentary committees. The government informed the leaders that it would get back to them.

The government wants the Insurance Bill and the Atomic Energy Bill passed because of negotiations underway with various international blocs amid turmoil triggered by global tariff disputes, sources said.

“We want these Bills to be cleared over the next two days. The government is keen to ensure that the revamped job guarantee scheme is rolled out from April 1, 2026. Our efforts will be focused on that,” said a Union minister.

Although the Opposition has objected to changes to the insurance and atomic energy laws, the Congress is expected to focus its attacks on the changes proposed to the rural job guarantee scheme, one of the UPA’s flagship programmes that earned the party significant goodwill in rural areas.

“It is a golden chance for us. It is a god-sent issue for the Congress, which has been desperate to find an issue with traction after the ‘vote chori’ campaign fizzled out. People will not forgive the removal of Gandhi ji’s name. The Congress ideology also comes into play when we raise the Mahatma Gandhi issue. We were never opposed to the BJP naming schemes after their ideologues such as Deen Dayal Upadhyaya or Syama Prasad Mookerjee. People will react once work under the scheme stops,” said a senior Congress MP.

Congress Chief Whip in the Lok Sabha, Manickam Tagore, said the party would aggressively raise these issues. “We are taking up the issue of removing Mahatma Gandhi’s name. The move will also deny the right to work. We will fight it in Parliament and on the streets. We will try to stop this attack on Mahatma Gandhi,” he said.

The Opposition party has issued a whip to its MPs to be present in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.