Delhi finance minister Manish Sisodia participated in all GST meetings of Finance ministers with centre.
Highlights
- Constitutional amendment enabling GST passed in both houses of parliament
- GST has to be passed by 15 of India's 29 states
- Delhi, in favour of GST could be first state to pass bill
Will Delhi beat Goa to become the first state to clear mega reform Goods and Services Tax or GST? The answer to that could lie in when the centre sends the bill to states.
The Lok Sabha passed the bill today and the centre, which has set itself a tough deadline of April 1 next year for implementation of GST, will now try to send it soonest to India's 29 states, at least 15, or half, of which must approve it.
Delhi government sources indicated that it intends to pass the bill in a four-day session of the assembly starting August 22, called to also clear some other bills.
The ruling Aam Aadmi Party, which has a gigantic majority in the Delhi assembly, favours GST, with finance minister Manish Sisodia participating in all meetings of the empowered committee of finance ministers with the centre.
Delhi's current share in central taxes is about 300 crores and will substantially increase once GST is implemented; the cash-strapped state is eager to help roll it out soonest.
However, BJP-ruled Goa could become the first state to clear GST this week, if the bill reaches it before it ends its monsoon session on Friday, August 12. Senior Goa BJP leaders have met PM Modi and also discussed extending the session by a few days for GST if needed.
The centre has said it expects 16 states to clear GST in the next 30 days. The BJP governs nine states on its own and four along with allies and these states are expected to call special sittings of their assemblies to clear GST.
Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar too has offered a special sitting of his state's assembly to clear GST and the West Bengal government is expected to clear the bill in a session it has called later this month.