The Lok Sabha, however, was divided on the Bill to revive the Council, abolished in 1986, with DMK describing it as a move to broad base societal representation in the governance structure and its arch rival AIADMK saying that it was being done to accommodate certain people with the ensuing state elections in view.
AIADMK, CPI, CPI(M) and RSP staged a walk-out in protest.
The Bill found support from the BJP, Congress, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, SP and RJD but was opposed by the BJD and CPI(M).
The Rajya Sabha approved the legislation yesterday with the Centre saying that it was open to the setting up of the Upper Houses in States where it did not exist.
The demand for setting up the Vidhan Parishad or a Legislative Council has to be moved by the respective State governments. The State governments also have to meet the expenditure involved for its functioning.
Those who supported the Bill made a forceful plea in the Lok Sabha for a political consensus in having an Upper House in all the states so that there is uniformity across the country.
Those who supported the legislation also argued that it represented the will of the people as manifested through the states Assemblies, who are sent to the Lower House through the process of election.
Those who opposed the legislation said history shows that the Upper House has been abolished by different parties in power at different times. Some described it as a wasteful expenditure and argued that people of eminence can in anyway come to power by getting elected in the assemblies.
The Lok Sabha passed the Bill after a clause by clause consideration.
Those who took part in the debate included Mr T R Baalu (DMK), Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav (SP), Mr Lalu Prasad (RJD), Mr Shahnawaz Hussain (BJP), Mr M Thambidurai (AIADMK), Mr B Mehtab (BJD), Mr P K Biju (CPI-M), Mr P Lingam (CPI), Mr S Shiraq (NC) and Mr S K Bwiswmuthiary (BPF).
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