The government's efforts to push through some important bills in the coming budget session suffered a setback yesterday. At the all-party meeting, various opposition parties vetoed the bills on fresh delimitation of constituencies and electoral reforms.

The delimitation exercise is now likely to begin only at the turn of the century, while a comprehensive bill on electoral reforms will in all likelihood be ready only before the winter session. A committee under the chairmanship of former Union Home Minister Indrajit Gupta has been set up to look into various proposals on electoral reforms.

With the bills on the creation of Chattisgarh and Vananchal still notready, the government is keen to push through the bills granting full statehood to Delhi and Uttaranchal.