Wary govt to table GST Bill in Rajya Sabha on Monday

 Despite getting overwhelming support in the Lok Sabha, the NDA government is not very confident of the outcome of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill in the Opposition-dominated Rajya Sabha.

This compelled government floor managers not to table the legislation before the Upper house on Thursday. Sources in the government said that the Constitutional amendment bill will now be introduced in the Rajya Sabha on Monday since ministers were reaching out individually to different parties to ascertain the final tally of MPs who would vote for the legislation. This would give the government a clear picture of the voting pattern.

At present, the GST Bill could be sent to a select committee as demanded by several Opposition parties, including the Congress and BJD, said sources.
 
The Congress had staged a walkout, while the AIADMK had voted against the bill, as other opposition parties had joined hands with the NDA to pass the bill in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. 

The Lok Sabha will now sit three days beyond the schedule winding up of the session on Friday to finish pending legislative agenda, including the GST Bill, the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs decided in an evening meeting.