The proposal to establish a Legislative Council (Upper House) in Rajasthan got a shot in the arm as the Union cabinet has cleared the state’s proposal. The state assembly had passed the resolution to create Legislative Council in April 2012 after the state cabinet cleared the resolution the same month. So far, the desert state as has only one House.
Now, the proposal would be sent to the Parliament in the form of a bill. The bill has to be passed in the Lok Sabha (lower house) and the Rajya Sabha (upper house) of the Parliament by a two-third majority for the council to form. After clearance from the Parliament, Rajasthan will become seventh state to have a Legislative Council.
Though the Congress government is elated over the development, realisation of the council will still take time as a lot of work is required for official formalities. Besides, at the time of passing resolution in the state assembly, the ruling party had faced opposition to the move from CPM legislators and an independent legislator who abstained from voting.
Welcoming the Union cabinet nod, Congress chief whip Raghu Sharma said it was an initiative taken by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. “The council will increase public’s representation in legislature and provide a chance for eminent persons from various spheres of life to serve people of the state.”
The size of a Legislative Council has to be one-third of the membership of the legislative assembly but cannot be less than 40 members.
Opposing the proposal, CPM legislator Amra Ram said the council is not at all required as it would just put extra financial burden on the state exchequer. “The council will provide a chance for the Congress and the BJP to facilitate backdoor entry for their favourites who cannot win elections,” he said. In fact, the BJP had charged CM Gehlot of trying to gain political mileage from the council but supported the resolution in the assembly without any opposition.
The previous BJP government led by Vasundhara Raje had announced in its manifesto to introduce Legislative Council but could not bring the resolution in the assembly.
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