New Delhi: Controversy over changes in the Rajya Sabha election methods notwithstanding the Congress-led coalition Government at the Center is likely to defend before the Supreme Court tomorrow (July 12,2004) the amendment to Representation of People Act dispensing with the domicile requirement of the candidates as well as the open ballot system.

"The Attorney General will defend the amendments made to the Representation of People Act," Government sources said. When asked about the Center's stand before the Supreme Court which tomorrow will hear the petition filed by noted journalist Kuldip Nayar challenging the changes made in the election law.

The Supreme Court on June 9 had lifted its stay on the election to the 65 seats of Rajya Sabha but had said that the election of the members to the House of Elders would be subject to the Court's final decision on the petition.

Prominent among those who got elected in the recently concluded elections to Rajya Sabha were Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Power Minister P M Sayeed, leader of opposition Jaswant Singh, former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha and BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) president Venkaiah Naidu

The NDA (National Democratic Alliance) Government had brought the amendment to the RP Act to stop rampant cross-voting that was going on during the Rajya Sabha elections and to regularize the practice of persons getting elected to the Upper House without belonging to the particular State.