The Communication and IT Minister’s plans for getting Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd listed on the bourses may go awry, with the employees union threatening to go on an indefinite strike from February 26 to protest the stake sale.

The issue has also taken political contours with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) saying that selling stakes in profit making companies is against the Common Minimum Programme of the UPA Government.

Top BSNL officials said that there could be a rethink on the proposal given the severe opposition. “The Department of Telecom will review the proposal. It will be difficult to push through the stake sale given the opposition from the company employees. We don’t expect it to happen very soon.”

On Monday, the Communications Minister, Mr A. Raja, had revealed that an initial public offering by BSNL was being considered. As per the plan, which was announced by BSNL officers at a press conference, about 10 per cent stake in the company is to be offloaded to raise about $10 billion.

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