Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: Minister of State in the PMO V Narayanasamy said on Thursday a whip has been issued to all Congress Rajya Sabha MPs asking them to be present in the house today to take part in debate and voting on the Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill.
The Congress was left red-faced after around 15 party MPs remained absent during voting on Constitution Amendment Bill on Lokpal.
The sources said Sonia Gandhi was angry and has tasked party MPs Girija Vyas and Sandeep Dikshit to prepare the list and find out the reasons for the absence.
On the issue of the Lokpal Bill, Narayanasamy said that the bill is listed as the first item in the Rajya Sabha and would be taken up as soon as the house convenes.
Speaking to a news channel, he further expressed confidence that Trinamool Congress would support the government on the issue and not press for the exclusion of Lokayukta from the bill.
The MoS said that from the government side, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is said to be talking to TMC chief Mamata Banerjee.
Support from the TMC is crucial for the government given the fact that they lack majority in the upper house.
First Published: Thursday, December 29, 2011, 09:34