FDI in retail: govt's victory margin 21 in Rajya Sabha

The government today won the vote on FDI in multi-brand retail by a margin of 21 in the Rajya Sabha, according to an official statement issued after a scrutiny of the records.

The government on Friday won the vote on FDI in multi-brand retail by a margin of 21 in the Rajya Sabha, according to an official statement issued after a scrutiny of the records.

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It was earlier said the government had won by 14 votes.

A late evening press communique issued by the Rajya Sabha secretariat said that 225 members voted, of whom 102 voted in favour of the opposition sponsored motion against allowing foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail while 123 voted against it.

"After the scrutiny of records of the Division held on the Motion under Rule 168 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Rajya Sabha, regarding FDI in multi-brand retail sector on Dec 7, 2012, 225 Members voted and 19 did not vote. While 102 Members voted for the Motion, 123 voted against it. Thus the Motion was not carried," the communique said.

The Upper House of Parliament has an effective strength of 244 at present. The 19 members who did not vote included nine of Samajwadi Party who staged a walk out before voting.

Earlier, the chair had announced in the house that subject to corrections, 109 members had voted in favour of the motion and 123 against it.

A minister had later raised apprehensions over the figure, saying that it did not tally with the number of members present in the house and voting.

Subsequently, a scrutiny of records was carried out.

Political observers said that the margin of government victory in Rajya Sabha was significant as the ruling United Progressive Alliance did not have a majority in the house.