Parliament's approval for the bill would permit the release of huge quantities of grain from the government's overflowing storage sites at near giveaway prices and is expected to become a big vote-winner for the Congress party-led coalition government, which faces a general election in early 2014.

WSJ: India Cabinet Clears Food-Security Bill

Besides, having the JD(U)'s backing could help the Congress party-led coalition in the national election.

WSJ: India's Bihar State Gets $2.2 Billion Federal Aid

The cabinet of the Congress party-led coalition agreed last week to allow foreign multibrand retailers to own up to 51% of joint ventures and open supermarkets in India.

WSJ: Hurdles Slow India Retail Plan

The power issues spell more trouble for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who heads the Congress Party-led coalition government and was the architect of the 1991 reforms that ended years of Soviet-style economic planning.

WSJ: India Blackouts Show Failure to Lure Investors

Correspondents say the scheme, together with some other populist measures announced by the Congress party-led government, helped the coalition return to power in the 2009 elections.

BBC: Indian farmer

In September, the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress had pulled out of the coalition government protesting a decision to allow foreign retailers set up shop in India.

WSJ: India Party Pulls Support From Government

The very same polls got it drastically wrong in the last election of 2004, predicting a victory for the BJP-led coalition only to have the Congress party ultimately snatching the lead.

FORBES: Indian Elections

Monday's polls in the politically crucial northern state of Punjab were expected to see a keen contest between its ruling coalition - led by the regional Shiromani Akali Dal party - and Congress, which is the main opposition in the state.

BBC: India state elections held in Punjab and Uttarakhand

The centre-left Ettakatol and the secular Congress for the Republic led by President Moncef Marzouki - the same parties that formed the previous cabinet - remain in the coalition.

BBC: Tunisia PM Ali Larayedh unveils new government