PATNA: Consensus eluded the all-party meet called by the NDA government here on Saturday to solicit their views on the draft Lokayukta Bill cleared by the state cabinet.

While Opposition parties wanted the government not to hastily push the bill and wait for the Lokpal bill expected to be piloted in parliament in the current session, the ruling combine strongly pleaded for bringing it in the winter session of the state legislature beginning December 2. There were differences on several other provisions of the draft bill as well.

JD(U) and BJP said the office of Lokayukta should be totally free from government influence while some opposition parties demanded reservation for dalit, minority and extremely backward castes (EBC) in the appointment of members of the Lokayukta. They also wanted that the chief minister should not be a member of the Lokayukta selection committee.

After over two-hour-long meeting, CM Nitish Kumar said that the Group of Ministers (GoM) would take into account the opinions and suggestions of various parties before finalizing the bill's draft for the cabinet's nod.

State BJP chief C P Thakur said, "There should be no delay in the constitution of Lokayukta and the bill should be brought in the winter session of the assembly." JD(U) state president Vashishtha Narayan Singh supported his contention. All political parties supported the government move to keep the chief minister in Lokayukta's ambit.

But parties like the Congress and RJD contended that the state government should wait for the Lokpal Bill to be passed by parliament as it might have provisions regarding setting up of Lokayuktas in the states. "It appears that CM Nitish Kumar is in a hurry to bring the Bill and take credit for it. He is least bothered about the fate of the bill," said state RJD president Ramchandra Purvey. He demanded wide-ranging debate involving all sections of the society before giving a final shape to the bill.

Congress legislature party leader in the assembly Sadanand Singh said, "The Centre is bringing a strong Lokpal Bill. Bihar should wait for that bill." He suggested that Bihar should bring the Lokayukta bill in the next session of the state legislature.

Some Opposition leaders suggested increasing the number of members of the Lokayukta office and expansion of the selection panel. "The CM should not be on the selection panel, else he can influence other members," said Raghvendra Kushwaha of LJP. Babban Singh Kushwaha of BSP said that the representatives of judiciary and civil society should be included in it and whistleblowers should be protected. Badri Narayan Lal of the CPI and Sarvodaya Sharma of CPM also took part in the debate. Sharma suggested that the Lokayukta's office should not have politicians, bureaucrats and representatives of trading community as people had lost confidence in them.

Faizan Ahmad, TOI, Patna