NEW DELHI: The government suffered a setback on the last day of the budget session in the Lok Sabha May 13 when it was again not allowed to  move the two electoral reforms Bills envisaging major changes in elections here and the functioning of the Election Commission including a restraint on the Chief Election Commissioner T. N. Seshan

But later at a meeting of the party leaders with the Speaker it was decided to call a two-day special session from June 13 to consider the Bills. The government had pressed for early convening of the session. But BJP leaders had argued that members would not be free to return to the Capital until the Lok Sabha and assembly by-elections due to take place in about three weeks are over While the treasury benches and Left parties were pressing for the introduction of the Bills the BJP and Janata Dal strongly opposed the move. It was probably one of the rate occasions in the life of the 10th Lok Sabha that the Speaker had rejected the government contention and agreed with the Opposition.

Article extracted from this publication >> May 20, 1994