The Rajya Sabha today passed a Bill, doing away with the provision of residential proof required for contesting elections in the Upper House, and going for an open ballot.Introduced to check money play and cross-voting, the Bill says a person need not produce a residency certificate to contest Rajya Sabha elections from a particular state. Piloting the Representation to the People (Amendment) Bill, 2001, Law Minister Arun Jaitley assured that the Upper House would continue to remain a council of state despite the removal of the residency clause as the MLAs will continue to elect the members.‘‘It (the Bill) is to stymie the growing tendency of money play in the elections,’’ Jaitley said. Countering Fali S. Nariman’s view on the Bill, Jaitley said it was certainly not aimed at changing the Constitution.‘‘We are seeking a change in residential qualification and have consulted various agencies, including the EC, and political parties,’’ he said. For introducing open ballot system, he said the government will like to invite the opinion of political parties and chief ministers.The Bill saw opposition unity in the House fracturing today. With the Congress and the RJD supporting the Bill, it was only the Left Parties that put in a dissenting note.The RS today also passed the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill which will empower the government to strengthen control regime for sugar sale in the free market. Its aim is to ensure that the market is not flooded with stocks, crashing prices for both the industry and cane growers.
