NEW DELHI: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi has begun the process of consulting Opposition and other party leaders on the growing demand from political parties that the Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1959 on office of profit must be amended. Discussions are believed to be taking place on when an urgent Parliament session should be convened.

Calls on Advani

On Saturday Mr. Dasmunsi called on the Leader of Opposition, L.K. Advani. In fact, a meeting of the National Democratic Alliance leaders scheduled on Saturday evening did not take place because the NDA wanted to know what the Government thinking was, a party leader said.

Stung by BJP criticism that the Congress was "subverting" parliamentary and constitutional norms to "protect" Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Mr. Dasmunsi said on Friday that the Government was not thinking of issuing any ordinance on the subject, nor was there any move to enact any legislation. That was after Ms. Gandhi's resignation from the Lok Sabha.

It is not very clear whether Mr. Dasmunsi's meeting with Mr. Advani and other party leaders will pave the way for an all-party meeting on this subject or straightaway an agreement will be reached on calling an early session of Parliament to amend the Act to save several State Governments that would otherwise fall if a number of ruling legislators were disqualified for holding offices of profit.

In Uttaranchal, a Bill to protect legislators from disqualification on the ground of holding an office of profit has been tabled amid noisy scenes. In Jharkhand, the BJP-led Government passed a similar legislation with retrospective effect through a voice vote amid chaotic scenes. In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP Government headed by Shivraj Singh Chauhan faced the wrath of Congress legislators who demanded the Chief Minister's "disqualification" and resignation. Complaints have been made against 10 BJP ministers in Madhya Pradesh.

Political parties, including those of the NDA, are now trying to cope with the problem of a flood of "complaints" lodged against their legislators seeking their disqualification. Some Governors have already forwarded the complaints to the Election Commission.

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