Time running out for BJP on temple issue

supposed to decide on a land dispute through legislation. So the ruling party is not able to take this route despite much clamour.

With its own ally Shiv Sena generating a lot of heat on the issue inside and outside Parliament, the party is mulling to bring a Private Member’s Bill in one of the Houses through one of its MPs. But that too has to pass the numbers’ test on the floors of Parliament if a division of votes is pressed for, and the party does not have the required numbers in the Rajya Sabha.

However, that is the only option left for the Modi government, wherein it will be in an advantageous position whatever may be the outcome. BJP will certainly reap rich dividends if it manages to get the Bill passed in both Houses. But even if the Bill gets through only in Lok Sabha, where the party has a majority and fails in Rajya Sabha, BJP would still be able to drive the point home that it did attempt something drastic in the matter and discredit the Opposition for not supporting the cause.

The general elections are most probably going to be held in the months of March and April and, in that case, the code of conduct will become effective in February itself. So the polls are practically just two months away. Sensing that time is running out fast, many BJP MPs are coming up with statements that they are going to move the said Private Bill in the current session of Parliament.

First to do so was Rakesh Sinha, who was recently nominated to the Rajya Sabha, while the party’s Dharwad MP, Prahlad Joshi was the next to make the claim and its Delhi MP Manoj Tiwari is the latest to join the bandwagon. However, whoever moves the Bill, it will be interesting to see that who would “dare to oppose” it, given the high public sentiment prevailing across the country in favour of it.