Opposition gears up for Rajya Sabha battle on Delhi services bill with special preparations for ailing MPs
New Delhi, July 28: The newly-formed INDIA bloc, comprising 26 opposition parties, is leaving no stone unturned in its efforts to ensure full attendance of its MPs in the Rajya Sabha to fiercely contest the Delhi services bill against the BJP next week. With former prime minister Manmohan Singh (90) and former Jharkhand chief minister Shibu Soren (79) among the ailing leaders set to participate, the opposition is arranging ambulances for their safe arrival at the House.
The National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, is set to replace an ordinance that nullified a Supreme Court order granting transfer and posting powers to the Delhi government. To confront this contentious bill, the opposition is calling for a comprehensive discussion and plans to use all the allocated time for it.
While Manmohan Singh, who is unwell, is expected to be present in a wheelchair, Shibu Soren, who has largely withdrawn from public life due to his health, has already arrived in the national capital. JD(U)'s Bashistha Narain Singh (75) is likely to be brought to Parliament in an ambulance for the crucial voting on the bill.
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Opposition leaders, including Derek O’Brien from TMC and Jairam Ramesh from Congress, have requested the Leader of the House, Piyush Goyal, to provide advance notice before bringing the Delhi services bill for replacement. They cited previous instances when important bills were introduced without giving sufficient time for opposition parties to formulate their stand.
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The Congress and Janata Dal (United) have already issued whips to their members, directing them to be present in the House during the voting. O'Brien and other opposition leaders have written to the Rajya Sabha chairman, urging him not to include the bill in a supplementary list of business, to allow ample time for thorough debate and scrutiny.
The INDIA bloc, consisting of 109 MPs, aims for a discussion on the bill and is determined to take the vote, regardless of the outcome. The opposition is keen to see where parties stand in terms of their support for the Constitution or their alignment with the ruling BJP.
Although the opposition is expecting around 109 MPs to vote against the bill, they are still short of the halfway mark of 120 due to the presence of some vacant seats. The NDA, with 100 MPs, will rely on nominated members, independents, and non-aligned parties to support the bill.
With at least 18 parties from the opposition grouping holding a collective strength of 101 MPs in the Rajya Sabha, the stage is set for a critical showdown on the Delhi services bill. Additionally, BRS (seven MPs) is also expected to vote against the bill, while the YSR Congress (nine MPs) may support it. The ruling NDA aims to secure the necessary votes to pass the legislation.
- With inputs from agencies
