Just in: The government has postponed the Food Ordinance Bill. The government says there is a lack of political consensus and will try to talk to the opposition again.  The Food Security Bill, a pet project of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, was tabled in the Budget session of Parliament but could not be taken up for discussion due to pandemonium in the Lok Sabha over various scams. However, government is keen on issuing an ordinance for early implementation of the bill.

Finance minister P Chidambaram says the government will make one last effort to get the bill passed at a special session of Parliament. NCP chief Sharad Pawar, who is a key ally, has opposed the bill, as did some Congress leaders.  

The government may now call the monsoon session earlier as a special session of Parliament.