GST Bill listed for Wednesday: Smooth sail likely as BJP issues whip, Congress confirms support

New Delhi: The long-pending GST Bill has been listed for consideration and passage in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday amidst strong indications that the most far-reaching taxation reform in independent India would be supported by Congress and all other major political parties. The BJP on Monday issued a whip to its members to be present in the House for the next three days during which the party expects the legislation to be passed. The Congress, the main opposition party, has also confirmed its support. With this, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill, which has been in the making for over a decade and seeks to introduce single indirect tax regime across the country, seems to be set for a smooth sail in the Upper House. “The GST Bill is listed for consideration and passage on Wednesday in Rajya Sabha and we seek support of all political parties. The mood is in favour of its passage,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said. BJP sources said the whip has been issued in connection with the key reform bill, which has been high on the government’s agenda but stalled by Congress over some provisions. [caption id=“attachment_2925626” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Prime minister Narendra Modi. PTI[/caption] The BJP-led NDA lacks a majority in the Upper House but has managed to get support of several regional parties on the GST bill. To bring Congress on board, the government last week cleared changes in the constitutional amendment bill, including doing away with the additional 1 per cent tax by producing states and compensating all states for any revenue loss in the first five years post the GST roll out. BJP parliamentary party is also meeting today and senior ministers may brief the members about the bill and other important issues on the agenda in the coming days. In the first official confirmation to CNBC-TV18, Congress Spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi has said the party will support its passage when the Bill is tabled in Parliament on Wednesday. Noting that there had been movement on the subject, Singhvi added that the government’s decision to table a fresh GST Constitutional Amendment Bill was a “clear sign of convergence”. He, however, said that many details of the tax reform will still to be worked out and that some states were still to come aboard. BJP parliamentary party is also meeting tomorrow and senior ministers may brief the members about the bill and other important issues on the agenda in the coming days.