E-Paper
OoP Bill: Voices of dissent in NDA over stand
The NDA may have managed to project a united face in deciding to oppose office of profit Bill but there were voices of dissent with JD(U).
The NDA may have managed to project a united face in deciding to oppose office of profit Bill but there were voices of dissent with JD(U), a key constituent of the alliance, expressing strong reservations on the stand, NDA sources said.
Though all the allies, including JD(U), finally veered around the decision to oppose the Bill to be introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, some of the allies expressed apprehension that the stand could create trouble for their governments in the states and would be widely perceived as "double standard" of the alliance, the sources said.
During the 90-minute NDA meeting here chaired by former Prime Minister AB Vajpayee, JD(U) President Sharad Yadav was understood to be the most vocal in opposing the stand saying that in fragile coalition governments all prominent MLAs needed to be accommodated.
With the limitations on the size of the council of ministers, these lawmakers had to be given certain responsibilities and posts, Yadav contended, according to sources.
He advocated that even if they are not given any salaries or perks, the legislators should be allowed to hold certain offices for the stability of such Governments.
Referring to a similar law enacted in Jharkhand, where BJP and JD(U) share power, Yadav reportedly said opposing the Bill in Parliament on Tuesday would be widely criticised as double standard.
Some other allies, including BJD, which runs a coalition with BJP in Orissa, are also understood to have supported Yadav's contention.
