NEW DELHI: If parties supporting the current GST bill and those who had reservations, but have edged closer to supporting the legislation, are taken together, the
longpending landmark tax reform has now more than two-thirds support needed for
its passage in Rajya Sabha.
As things stand, around 163 MPs could support the bill, excluding 12 from AIADMK who had concerns but could reach a middle ground or would abstain, as opposed to 65 UPA MPs. The 10 Left MPs have not officially declared their support, but considerable progress has been achieved in narrowing differences with CPM, government sources said.
Tamil Nadu, with a strong manufacturing base, is worried about loss of revenue. But the sources are hopeful that given NDA's cordial relations with CM J Jayalalithaa, AIADMK will at least abstain if it doesn't back the bill.
The government is promising AIADMK that the compensation clause will address the issue. Odisha's ruling BJD has had concerns over royalties for minerals but will support the bill.
Though Congress is fairly isolated, it has the numerical strength to disrupt the House, preventing passage of the legislation. As the bill is a constitutional amendment, a vote is required and the House must be in order. Any disruption will effectively stall the bill's passage. The government hopes to persuade Congress to drop its insistence on writing an 18% rate into the amendment bill.
Even an abstention by AIADMK will work to the government's advantage. With 163 MPs in support in a House with an effective strength (if AIADMK abstains) of 229, the GST has the backing of 71% members. As of now, the House has a strength of 241, with four vacancies. In fact, after the June 11 election, BJP will gain four, Congress will lose the same number, JD(U) will lose three, AIADMK will gain one and RJD will gain two seats.
However, the backing for the bill will only become stronger if the AIADMK finally decides to support the legislation. The Left indicated its support to the GST bill during
recent meetings between Kerala CM Pinnarayi Vijayan and finance minister Arun Jaitley.