Maharashtra Assembly ratifies GST Bill

Maharashtra Legislative Assembly ratified the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Constitutional Amendment Bill passed by the Parliament, at a special one-day session of the state legislature here.

The proposal was passed unanimously by the Lower House, making Maharashtra the ninth state to ratify the GST bill, billed as the biggest tax reform since Independence.

Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, who tabled the resolution to ratify the bill, said Maharashtra would not incur any losses after GST comes into effect.

"Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has held detailed discussions on the GST bill with Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley," he said.

"We have also allayed apprehensions of Shiv Sena on the bill," the state Finance Minister said.

Leader of Opposition in Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said the ruling BJP should not claim credit for ushering in the GST era.

"GST bill is the offspring of Congress and BJP should not claim parentage. It was Congress which bore the 'labour pain' (on GST bill)," Vikhe Patil said.

"While in Opposition, BJP opposed this legislation.

(Prime Minister) Narendra Modi, while he was Gujarat Chief Minister, also opposed it," the Congress leader said.

"BJP government always blames Congress for all ills afflicting the country, but on the other hand, implements many of our programmes and policies," he added.

In the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly, the BJP and Shiv Sena (SS) alliance has a majority of 185. With the Opposition Congress and NCP in favour of GST, the Lower House ratified the Bill unanimously.