TIOL-DDT 2660 · Tuesday, 11 August 2015 · story 1 of 6

GST Bill in Rajya Sabha Today

THE Revised List of Business for Rajya Sabha for today shows:

SHRIARUN JAITLEY to move that the Bill further to amend the Constitution of India, as passed by Lok Sabha, and as reported by the Select Committee of Rajya Sabha, be taken into consideration.

ALSO to move that the Bill be passed.

The GST Bill which has almost been given up has suddenly sprung back with changes in the political equations. Now the numbers as of now in the Rajya Sabha are against the government, but it still hopes to get through and if it does, it will not only be a huge legislative victory, but a giant leap in taxation.

As this is a Constitution Amendment Bill, it requires to be passed by a majority of the total members of the House and by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members of that House present and voting.

The present strength of the Rajya Sabha is 244. The strength of parties and groups are like this:

Group

Party

Strength

National Democratic Alliance Seats: 64

Bharatiya Janata Party

48

Telugu Desam Party

06

Shiromani Akali Dal

03

Shiv Sena

03

Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party

02

Nagaland People's Front

01

Republican Party of India (Athavale)

01

United Progressive Alliance Seats: 70

Indian National Congress

68

Kerala Congress (Mani)

01

Indian Union Muslim League (IUML)

01

Janata Parivar Seats: 30

Samajwadi Party

15

Janata Dal (United)

12

Indian National Lok Dal

01

Janata Dal (Secular)

01

Rashtriya Janata Dal

01

Other Parties Seats: 63

All India Trinamool Congress

12

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam

11

Bahujan Samaj Party

10

Communist Party of India (Marxist)

09

BijuJanata Dal

06

Nationalist Congress Party

06

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam

04

Communist Party of India

01

Bodoland People's Front

01

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha

01

Sikkim Democratic Front

01

Telangana Rashtra Samithi

01

Seats: 10

Nominated

10

Seats: 07

Independents

07

244

If all the Members are present, 163 votes are required to pass the bill. Can the Government make it?