Informed ‘late’, opposition plans to oppose poll reforms bill in Rajya Sabha

NEW DELHI: Within hours of the Election Laws (Amendment) Bill 2021 being passed amid protests in Lok Sabha on Monday, opposition parties decided to oppose it in Rajya Sabha and boycott the Business Advisory Committee meeting “called in a hurry” to slot time for it on Tuesday in the Upper House.
When marshals came in around 5pm to inform floor leaders in the Upper House that a BAC meeting has been called by the Chair at 5.30pm on Monday, TMC MPs decided to oppose the bill and not attend the meeting at such a short notice. They walked out of House in protest and Congress members led by Leader of Opposition Malikarjun Kharge followed and so did CPI, CPM, RJD, AAP, SP, NCP, Shiv Sena, IUML, DMK, MDMK among others.
Most opposition parties have decided to oppose the legislation and demand the bill to be sent to a Joint Select Committee. TMC chief whip in Rajya Sabha Sukhendu Sekhar Ray told TOI, “Now it seems 12 opposition members were expelled from the House with a clear motive — to pass this Bill in the last leg of the winter session.”
CPM reacted saying, “This bill has the danger of violating both secrecy of the vote undermining the principle of secret ballot and the fundamental right to privacy.” Congress Lok Sabha MP Manickam Tagore said, “The government introduced the bill at 12.15pm and passed it 2.45pm, without discussion. MPs were given no time to move amendments.”
Alleging that “everything has been done in a hush-hush manner and in extreme haste,” Ray said, “first, no scrutiny of the bill by Standing Committee was done. Second, there was an attempt to influence the Election Commission as PMO asked its functionaries to join a meeting which is unprecedented. Third, suddenly the BAC meeting was called today for allocation of time for this Bill,” on why TMC and other parties are against the bill.