NEW DELHI: The government is set to aggressively push the Constitution amendment bill for implementing goods and services tax (GST) in the monsoon session of Parliamentas it looks to roll out the long-awaited tax reform from April. "We will look to introduce the bill on the first day itself and ask for a vote," said a senior government functionary, reflecting the assessment in ruling circles that Congress, sobered by fresh electoral setbacks, may not wish to play deal-breaker and risk isolation on the legislation which has the support of other non-BJP players. "All parties other than Congress are supporting GST and even Congress chief ministers are in favour of it," said a top government source, adding that the Centre was confident of successfully pushing the legislation through Rajya Sabha. Encouraged by BJP's victory in Assam, the government is set to give the GST bill a determined shot in the monsoon session. "Ideally, we would like to pass it with the support of Congress. It is a Constitution amendment bill and so it is desirable that all are on board. However, we don't mind doing it without them if it comes to that," a source told TOI.
Congress, which conceived the bill, is pressing for three amendments in the fresh version of the legislation -incorporating the GST rate in the Constitution amendment bill, a dispute resolution panel headed by a former SC judge and doing away with the 1 per cent additional levy for 'manufacturing' states. Although the government is willing to drop the additional levy, it has rejected the other two proposals.