The Union Cabinet has decided to withdraw the Ordinance as well as the Bill on convicted lawmakers. Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari told reporters after the cabinet meeting that the decision was unanimous. He said, the Cabinet also decided to withdraw the relevant Bill pending before Parliament and an appropriate motion will be brought when Parliament re-assembles.

Replying to a question, Tewari said that the decision has been taken in view of public opinion and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi did not undermine the Prime Minister's authority by raising the issue. He said that Rahul Gandhi may have got feedback from the people to form his opinion.

About objections of the political parties over the ordinance, he said in all party meeting, opposition parties had agreed to bring the bill and government had acted on it.

Earlier in the day, the Congress core group favoured withdrawal of the ordinance. Later, the Prime Minister met President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhawan to brief him on the issue.

BJP has welcomed government decision to withdraw the ordinance and the bill. Reacting to the decision, senior party leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said, it is the result of pressure created by his party, other political parties, civil society and media. He claimed that BJP has been opposed to the bill from the very beginning.