Issues | Main Opposition | Future |
Hike in sectoral FDI caps | Ministers and Swadeshi Jagaran Manch on the grounds of national security | Completely dark. Not on cards till elections are over. |
Disinvestment (oil PSU) | Petroleum minister Ram Naik, Shiv Sena, Congress and Left parties | Definite slowdown in ongoing privatisation. No new decision expected. |
Value added tax | All traders, some states, a section of the BJP, finance minister | Some states will push through but nationwide adoption not before 2004 |
Revision of EPF interest | All trade unions, Labour minister Sahib Singh Verma who chairs the EPF board | Verma’ll find it tough to intervene after high-yield special deposit scheme ends |
Subsidy cut | Congress, Left parties, state governments, NDA allies | None after recent rollback in fertiliser subsidy. Try again next budget. |
Labour reform | All trade unions, Left parties, some NDA allies | Shifted to agenda of the Fourteenth Lok Sabha |