The government Wednesday night exuded confidence to get the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill passed in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday despite not having a clear majority.

Though the House has the strength of 243 members, the Congress strategists are working on the Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal to stage a walkout at the stage of voting as they did in the Lok Sabha. The first two have own compulsion to do so because of the February Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, they point out.

That will reduce the effective strength of the House to 216 since these three parties together have 27 members -- 18 of BSP, 5 of SP and 4 of RJD. The strategists claim the government's combined strength, including eight nominated members and five of the six independents, is 114, enough to get the Bill passed and all Opposition amendments defeated.

The Government wanted the whistle-blowers' protection bill passed on Wednesday to have enough time for the Lokpal Bill, but the Opposition, particularly the BJP, did not agree and as such it goes for the toss to be taken up now only in the next session in February. Eight hours are allotted for discussion on the Lokpal Bill that begins on Thursday at 11 AM and hence it will be passed only by 9 PM or so when the members would not agree to sit more and beyond the midnight for the whistle-blower bill that is not a priority in any case, the government sources said.

As regard fall of the Constitution amendment bill in the Lok Sabha Tuesday night that was to give the constitutional status to the Lokpal, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal put blame on the BJP, pointing out that "we know that no constitution bill can be passed on our own majority in either House and hence we need support of other parties to carry through such Bills requiring voting by two-third of members present and half of the strength of the House.

And, still the government is toying with another trial of strength in the Rajya Sabha on the same constitution amendment bill as its defeat will give a handle to the Congress to point out that it is the BJP which does not want to make the Lokpal strong with the constitutional status. In fact, Rahul Gandhi started attacking the BJP on this ground in his resumed campaign tour of Uttar Pradesh.

Here is a PTI report:

Govt hopes allies will help clear Lokpal Bill in RS

With uncertainty looming over fate of Lokpal Bill in Rajya Sabha, Government today hoped that all allies will come around and help in its passage so that possibility of convening a Joint Session of Parliament does not arise.

"I hope that everyone will come around. We will have to carry everybody and pass the bill," Union Minister Minister V Narayanasamy said.

The bill was cleared by the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

Narayansamy said Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has spoken to leaders of Trinamool Congress, which have given notice for amendment to the crucial legislation, and has explained the situation to them.

Trinamool Congress, which has 6 members in the 243-member Upper House where the Congress and its allies do not have majority, wants removal of the provisions relating to the setting up of Lokayuktas in the state which is contained in the Bill passed by Lok Sabha.

Narayanasamy said it has been made clear that the Lokayukta aspect will not come into force without consent of the state and added, "I think they will all come around."

Asked if the need for a Joint Session of Parliament for passage of Lokpal Bill would arise if it failed in Rajya Sabha, he said, "I don't visualise that situation."

Asked whether reference to Lokayukta in the bill could be deleted as demanded by the Trinamool, he emphasised the bill has been prepared after discussions with all parties as also allies and in the light of the commitment given by the Prime Minister on the floor of the House on the issue of Lokpal and Lokayukta.

Asked whether parties like SP and BSP would stay away as had happened in Lok Sabha, the minister said he was not aware of the strategy of these parties but the government would like support of all parties.

Against the backdrop of the embarrassment suffered by Congress in Lok Sabha due to absence of a dozen odd members, he said the scenario is unlikely to be repeated in Rajya Sabha as efforts are being made for the presence of all.

"One or two members are indisposed," he said, adding efforts would be made to ensure presence of everyone.