Bill for revival of TN Legislative Council soon

In moves that showed government wanted to keep its key partner DMK in good humour, a bill for revival of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Council is to be taken up by the Lok Sabha this week.

In moves that showed government wanted to keep its key partner DMK in good humour, a bill for revival of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Council is to be taken up by the Lok Sabha this week.

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The Tamil Nadu Legislative Council Bill, 2010, is among the seven Bills listed for consideration and passing by the government in its agenda in the last week of the Budget session of Parliament.

Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu are due by early next year and the ruling DMK has secured the Assembly's approval to a resolution for reviving the Council after 24 years. Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK and Left parties have opposed the move.

Revival of the Upper House was one of the poll promises of the DMK. Its allies Congress and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi supported the resolution with PMK also backing it.

The Council was abolished by the AIADMK government of M G Ramachandran in 1986.

The AIADMK has alleged that the DMK was taking up the matter to "resolve issues within party and allies."

Chief Minister Karunanidhi, whose party is a key constituent of the UPA, has expressed confidence of a "favourable response" from the Centre on the resolution.

Congress is supporting the DMK government from outside.