Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, who earlier handled Parliamentary Affairs portfolio, called up Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad and his deputy Anand Sharma to seek Congress' backing for passage of the crucial bill in the Monsoon session of Parliament starting July 18.
Sources said the calls were part of government's efforts to reach out to the principal opposition party and engaging with its leadership in a bid to enlist their support for the crucial tax reform legislation.
A meeting of top Congress leaders like Azad and Anand Sharma with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is likely tomorrow.
When Asked about the meeting with government to iron out the differences on GST, Azad said, "Yes, we are meeting. The meeting will take place, after that we will tell you."
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Asked about what could be the Congress stand at the meeting, Azad said, "I can't say without having a meeting with them and finally deciding on it. We shall have to talk to our friends and allies also."
Top Congress leaders had yesterday deliberated on the strategy for the session with party president Sonia Gandhi at her residence where GST was also discussed.
Congress has been pressing for a GST cap of 18 per cent as part of the Constitutional Amendment bill with which the government is not in agreement.