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When the Lok Sabha debated and discussed the mines and minerals Bill on March 3, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Trinamool Congress (TMC) had opposed the Bill tooth and nail and even moved amendments.
But, on Friday, in the Rajya Sabha, both parties supported the legislation and help the government pass the Bill. The Samajwadi Party, too, for the first time during the tenure of the Narendra Modi government, voted along with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The Congress, Left parties and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) opposed the Bill but were outnumbered. Thanks to the efficient floor management, the government has been able to create fissures in the opposition.
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The Janata Dal (United), which otherwise plays the role of convenor of opposition, decided to walk out and did not join the Left and Congress in opposing the Bill.
BJD’s Bhartuhari Mahtab, who had earlier pressed for a division of votes on his amendments, came around and supported the Bill. A senior BJD leader admitted that the party had “made it amply clear to the government that it would oppose the Bill if their two concerns were not taken care of” regarding districts getting adequate funding from the District Mineral Foundation and on the issue of royalty to states from mines auctioned after 2015. “But the government ignored it and went ahead and when they saw how we opposed them, they conceded by moving amendments to the Bill in the Rajya Sabha,” he said.
So, after two amendments were incorporated, the party was on board with the government even before the government went to a select committee. On Friday, BJD member Dilip Kumar Tirkey was voluble in his praise of the Bill.
But the greatest turnaround was of the TMC’s. In the Lok Sabha, Saugata Roy opposed the Bill and moved amendments on March 3. On March 10, TMC chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi. After this, the usually-belligerent TMC had a change of heart. If sources are to be believed, then the TMC chief herself had suggested to the PM that if the government wanted their support on the two Bills, the select committee route should be adopted where their concerns could be addressed. Parliament proceedings played as per script. The Bills were sent to the select committee ostensibly on the opposition pressure after which TMC leader in Rajya Sabha Derek O’ Brien said, “Our concerns regarding tribals and their welfare have been taken care of and we are supporting the Bill.”
The Congress’ coordination also failed in the Rajya Sabha, as 14 of its 68 members were not present. While seven were apparently “unwell”, five had taken a leave and two did not give any reasons. The party is likely to issue a show-cause notice to the members considering the fact that Congress high command of late, was keen that the government be hauled up over the mines and coal Bills.
The JD(U), which spearheaded Janata Parivar alliance with the SP and other Janata parties, faced a setback after Mulayam’s party voted in favour of the government. The JD(U), finding itself in a tricky position, decided to walk out rather than break ranks with the SP by siding with the Congress.
The Congress accused opposition parties, which supported the government, of compromising their ideology. However, it expressed the confidence that the opposition would remain united over the land Bill. A senior JD(U) leader, however, refuted the Congress allegation, saying it was the Congress which had first broken the opposition unity when it decided to support the government on the insurance Bill.
However BSP's Mayawati, TMC's Derek O Brien, SP's Naresh Agarwal all stated explicitly on the floor of the house that they would oppose the government on the "anti-farmer" Land bill.
