UPA government is ready to present its new FDI in retail policy in Lok Sabha for its approval. However the government seems worried over gaining approval from the Rajya Sabha.

UPA government is confident of receiving approval for its new FDI in retail policy from the lower house. But the approval of the upper house is a concern for the Congress led UPA government.

The policy of allowing more FDI- Foreign Direct Investment– in retail is said to boost the real estate sector. However the government’s decision aroused mixed opinion across the country. BSP in West Bengal and AIADMK in Tamil Nadu opposed the FDI in retail policy highly.

Talks between Congress led UPA government and the opposition parties did not get the expected result. The opposition parties insisted on a vote on FDI in retail policy in both Houses. Parliamentary affairs minister Kamal Nath’s proposal was turned down by the opposition parties.

Kamal Nath proposed the vote in the lower house alone while avoiding vote in the upper house. He was sure of UPA number in the lower house. This plan was highly resisted by Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley, the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha opposition leaders respectively.

Meanwhile BJP leaders gained support from other groups like Left, AIADMK, BJD, AGP and TDP. This support prompted the BJP leaders to insist more for the voted in both the parliamentary houses.  This stubborn nature of the opposing BJP along with other small parties has left the ruling allies to handle such undesirable choice.

There are many who opined that the Lower House – Lok Sabha is crucial. They held the view that only the result in the Lower House should be valued. The point behind their opinion is that the bill should be passed even if it is passed only in the lower house. If this is so, then the prominence of upper house will be questioned and this is not going to happen in anyway.

Rajeev Shukla, Minister of state for parliamentary affairs, expressed his hope that government would open to a discussion. He was also part of the negotiation. His expressed- hope highly depends on the act of Meira Kumar, honorable Speaker of the Lok Sabha. She is likely to accept the demand for vote under Rule 184.

Probably the vote will be first opened in the Lower house. The UPA government may get one week time for presenting FDI in retail policy for vote in the Upper House. The allied government should persuade the diverted BSP and SP to support the government in the upper house.

However the upcoming reports are not in favor of the ruling party. This was clear in the words of CPM Leader Sitaram Yechury who demanded the same regarding the FDI in retail.

Mrs. Swaraj said that there is no chance for fear. The government will not fall by this. She continued that the government should abide by the opinion of the majority.

The opposition raised by the Samajwadi Party is another headache for the government. S P has 9 members in the Upper House and this is highly crucial for the UPA fronts. Gaining the support of BSP, which has 15 members in RS, remains another concern for UPA fronts. Both the parties oppose the policy of more FDI in retail which will pave way for global retailers setting up shop in India.

To cross the majority mark, the UPA government should gain 123 votes in the upper House which has 244 total members. In case if SP and BSP abstain from the vote, then UPA will have to gain 110 votes to cross the halfway.

However the ruling ally can improve its chance in case if they gain the BSP votes. The BSP supermom Mayawati has not revealed her plans however it seems that she strongly opposes the government decision.