Triple talaq: Cabinet clears bail provision BJP scores a big win in RS ahead of 2019 polls

As predicted by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership on the eve of the election, BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) nominee for the post of Rajya Sabha deputy chairman comfortably defeated the Opposition nominee.

The win exposed the chinks in the Congress party’s ability to rally regional parties, and underscored the ability of Prime Minister (PM) NarendraModi and BJP chief Amit Shah to display political flexibility when the situation demands. The contest was seen as a test of Opposition unity in the build-up to the 2019 elections. However, Opposition leaders insisted the result was not a portent for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, but did add to the BJP's carefully crafted image of invincibility. In the run-up to the election to the post of deputy chairman, Modi and Shah understood that the numbers in the Rajya Sabha would be stacked against them if they were to field a BJP Member of Parliament (MP), and instead opted for ally Janata Dal (United)’s Harivansh as the NDA nominee. Harivansh’s candidature enabled Shah and other BJP strategists to convince upset allies like the Shiv Sena and Shiromani Akali Dal, but also some of the regional parties to support Harivansh. These were All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Biju Janata Dal (BJD), and Telangana Rashtra Samithi.

According to sources, the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) was also prevailed upon to ensure that its two MPs abstained from voting. The YSRCP had earlier decided to vote for the opposition candidate. YSRCP chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy is facing graft cases.

As the BJP leadership unleashed its carefully-planned strategy, the Congress could not convince any of the Opposition parties to field one of their MPs.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) refused to field Sukhendu Sekhar Roy days before the election. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar said his party MP Vandana Chavan wouldn’t contest in a losing battle. This was after Pawar came to know that the PM had reached out to BJD chief Naveen Patnaik, and the result was a foregone conclusion with nine BJD MPs voting for the NDA nominee.

According to Opposition sources, some of them had suggested to the Congress they should agree to a Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MP being the opposition candidate. They said this would give them an outside chance to galvanise regional parties in favour of the opposition candidate. The TDP was willing but the Congress disagreed and wanted to field one of its own.

Moreonbusiness-standard.com The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved inclusion of a provision of granting bail to men found guilty of giving instant triple talaq to their wives, sources in the government said. Giving instant triple talaq will continue to be illegal and void and will attract a jail term of three years for the husband.

The ‘Muslim Women Protection of Rights on Marriage Bill’ was cleared by Lok Sabha and is pending in Rajya Sabha where the government lacks numbers. Provision of bail was one of the demands of the opposition parties.

Under the amendments cleared, the magistrate will have powers to grant bail, the sources said. The proposed law would only be applicable on instant triple talaq and it would give power to the victim to approach a magistrate seeking “subsistence allowance” for herself and minor children.