Lokpal Bill: To be Tabled in RS Today Itself

The Congress Party has decided to table the Lokpal Bill in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. The bill is expected to be presented in RS post lunch today itself. Though the Congress originally wanted to table it on Thursday, but in view of the opposition's plan to protest against delay in tabling the bill has forced the government to alter its decision.

Rashtrapati Bhawan is still awaiting request from the government for tabling of Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill in Rajya Sabha. Union Minister V Narayanasamy had said the Lokpal Bill will have to get presidential assent in the wake of amendments made to it in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday and it can be tabled in the Rajya Sabha after that.

It is expected that the Presidential nod will be obtained by today afternoon for tabling of the bill in Rajya Sabha. However, in the 245-member Rajya Sabha, the Congress and its allies account for only 92 and fall short of a simple majority.