Kolkata, Apr 4 : Union Finance Minister and senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee has said there was no constiutional bar on introducing Vidhan Parishad (Upper House) as suggested by Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee in the event of Congress-TC alliance coming to power in West Bengal.
“The proposal first needs to be passed and sent to the Centre thereafter. Subsequently a bill is introduced in both houses of Parliament and passed with simple majority,” Mukherjee said to a question after releasing the party manifesto.
“No two-third majority is required for passing the bill so far as my knowledge about the Constitution goes,” the veteran leader said.
On Friday, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee said if the TC-led alliance came to power she would revive the Vidhan Parishad.
“If we (Trinamool Congress and Congress alliance) come to power we will revive the Vidhan Parishad where eminent personalities from different walks of life - economists, litterateur, artists, journalists, teachers and those from the unorganised sector and self-help groups would be made members,” Banerjee told a TV channel.
Banerjee said she had already told Pranab Mukherjee of her plan.
West Bengal had a bicameral legislature earlier, but it was abolished in August, 1969.
Trinamool sources said Banerjee was toying with the idea of reviving the Upper House as a number of eminent personalities from different walks of life had been drawn into her movement since the days of Singur and Nandigram stir.
Many of them were not keen on contesting the assembly polls, but Banerjee wanted to have their advice in running the government. PTI
