Will BJD support or oppose the Waqf Amendment Bill? MP reveals party’s stand
BJD has not issued a whip on the Waqf Amendment Bill in Rajya Sabha, MPs to vote independently;
Voting is to be held in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday on the Waqf Amendment Bill, and the debate on it is going on in the House. Meanwhile, former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's party, Biju Janata Dal (BJD), has given a big blow to the opposition's hopes. BJD has announced that they are not issuing any whip for their MPs on this bill, that is, their MPs can vote as per their wish.
According to the official statement of Biju Janata Dal, the party has given its MPs the freedom to vote freely and no party line has been fixed on this issue. However, interestingly, a BJD MP opposed the Waqf Amendment Bill during the discussion in the Rajya Sabha some time ago. Biju Janata Dal has a total of 7 MPs in the Rajya Sabha, and this stand of the party can make the path easier for the ruling NDA, while the challenges of the opposition may increase.
BJD MP Sasmit Patra said, "Biju Janata Dal has always followed the principles of secularism and inclusiveness and is committed to ensuring the rights of all communities. We seriously understand the concerns of various minority groups regarding the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024. The party has given its MPs in Rajya Sabha the freedom to vote according to their conscience in the interest of justice, harmony and the rights of all communities, considering all these aspects. Therefore, the party will not issue any whip on this bill."
The Waqf Amendment Bill, which has been passed by a majority in the Lok Sabha, will now undergo the real test in the Rajya Sabha. The NDA's majority in the Rajya Sabha rests on balance, so its future will depend on the voting pattern of the MPs of the allies. BJP must have breathed a sigh of relief due to BJD not issuing a whip, because now BJD MPs will vote according to their conscience.
The maximum number of members of Rajya Sabha can be 245, but currently there are 236 MPs in the House, as 9 seats are vacant. There can be 12 nominated MPs, out of which only 6 are present at the moment. According to this, the support of 119 MPs will be necessary to pass any bill.
If we look at the figures, NDA has a majority position. BJP has 98 MPs, JDU has 4, TDP has 2, NCP has 3, and 10 other parties of the alliance have 1 MP each. In such a situation, the stance of BJD MPs can make the path of the government easier to pass this bill.