Faced with the combined might of both the Opposition parties and the Election Commission, the Group of Ministers on Corruption on Wednesday chose not to discuss the controversial proposal of giving statutory basis to the Model Code of Conduct that would have curbed the powers of the poll watchdog.

The Government said that the terms of reference of the GoM, chaired by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, did not cover the code and hence it was not discussed, but the Opposition charged that the GoM developed cold feet following widespread condemnation of the move.

“I would like to say that the terms of reference of the GoM on corruption do not include the MCC. Therefore, today in the deliberations, it was not discussed,” MoS for Personnel V Narayanasamy said. He dismissed the earlier note reported to have circulated to GoM members specifying the issue as mere “suggestions.”

HRD Minister Kapil Sibal admitted that the issue of code was with “reference to developmental projects and somebody had raised it in the course of the meeting last time. But it was never part of the terms of reference.” However, GoM not discussing the matter has not pacified the BJP which asked all political parties and the EC to “nip in the bud” the Government’s attempt to dilute powers of the poll panel.

“I think this is a very questionable attempt by the Government to dilute the powers of the Election Commission through the backdoor by giving the impression that they are actually strengthening the model code of conduct. It has to be nipped in the bud,” BJP leader Yashwant Sinha said. The members of GoM should not allow themselves to be “corrupted” by taking up an item on their agenda which is beyond its jurisdiction.

Congress, which had mooted the idea recently, admitted the time for its acceptance has not come and charged the Opposition for trying to sensationalise it. Congress spokesman Manish Tewari said time was not ripe for it. His party colleague Abhishek Manu Singhvi termed the criticism as an “over reaction in respect of the non-existent decision, at non-existent premature stage on the basis of papers circulated many months ago. This is deliberate attempt to sensationalise based on a non-decision”.

For its part, the GoM okayed the draft Public Procurement Bill, which seeks to regulate Government purchases using a transparent bidding process. The bill will now be referred to the Prime Minister and then go to the Cabinet for final clearance before being presented in the Budget session of Parliament.