Political factors forced govt to take ordinance route

The ordinance to save the seats of convicted lawmakers had come as a result of the Congress' political calculations for the next general election and the upcoming winter session of Parliament. HT reports.

The ordinance to save the seats of convicted lawmakers had come as a result of the Congress' political calculations for the next general election and the upcoming winter session of Parliament.

As it had a list of unfinished agenda for the winter session, the party tried to cater to popular political considerations. The ordinance would have immediately offset to the effects of the recent Supreme Court order disqualifying lawmakers to hold their seats, even after getting convicted- benefitting almost all parties.

The Congress remains in a minority in Rajya Sabha and its member Rashid Masood faces the threat of disqualification. In Lok Sabha, Lalu Prasad's RJD, a consistent supporter of the UPA on the planks of secularism, also faces uncertainty due to the imminent verdict of the fodder scam cases.

Rahul Gandhi forced a U-turn as he realised that the collateral damage of passing this ordinance would be more in the current public mood against corruption.