With regional players on its side, govt to push GST

With regional players dominating the Rajya Sabha, the Centre is set to give a major push to the ambitious Goods and Services Tax Bill in the Monsoon Session of Parliament.

The government is counting in virtually all the regional players, barring the AIADMK, while parleys are said to be underway to get Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa to soften her stand.

A goods and services tax has the potential to add one per cent to GDP and the government is keen to see the bill passed in the Monsoon Session itself.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has been advocating the passage of the GST Bill and, because the Congress went with the Left in the recent Bengal Assembly election, the Trinamul Congress is likely to keep its distance from the Congress in both Houses of Parliament. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and Orissa CM Naveen Patnaik have also been supportive of the GST Bill on account of anticipated benefits to their states after its passage.

With the Congress’ strength now reduced in the Upper House, the government is hopeful that the main Opposition will not be able to effectively oppose it. The government is also counting on the support of the new Left Democratic Front government in Kerala.