The Lok Sabha is set to deliberate on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill on Wednesday, with the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) comfortably positioned to pass the legislation despite reservations expressed by some of its allies.
With a majority of 293 MPs in the 543-member House, the NDA stands well above the required 272 votes. In contrast, the Opposition’s INDIA bloc has 235 MPs, with the total opposition count standing at 241, factoring in non-aligned parties such as the AIMIM, YSRCP and Aazad Samaj Party, which have declared their opposition to the Bill.
While the BJP commands 240 seats, its allies include the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) with 16 MPs, Janata Dal (United) with 12, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) with 5, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena with 7, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) and JanaSena Party (JSP) with 2 each, and several smaller regional parties, including the NCP, Apna Dal, Hindustani Awam Morcha, All Jharkhand Students’ Union, and Northeast-based AGP, UPPL and SKM, with one MP each.
Allies raise concerns, yet to support bill
Despite their support, the JD(U) and TDP have flagged concerns over specific provisions of the Bill and may propose amendments. However, they are expected to ultimately vote in favour of its passage.
JD(U) national working president and MP Sanjay Jha reiterated his party’s opposition to any retrospective application of the Bill. “The provisions of the Bill should not be implemented with retrospective effect, and there should be no effect on something which has been the way it is in the past. We hope that the government will consider it,” he stated.
TDP sources also indicated that the party would push for a revision to the provision allowing non-Muslims to be members of Waqf boards, advocating instead for the decision to rest with individual states. “The party will unanimously demand that the representation of non-Muslims in Waqf boards be left to the discretion of the respective states,” a TDP leader told The Indian Express.
However, the source affirmed the party’s support for other amendments, including the inclusion of women in Waqf boards, calling it “a progressive change.”
United Opposition to press for vote
The Opposition, determined to challenge the Bill, has announced it will demand voting on the legislation. Among those set to vote against it are the Congress (99 MPs), Samajwadi Party (37), Trinamool Congress (28), DMK (22), Shiv Sena-UBT (9), NCP-SP (8), CPI-M (4), RJD (4), Aam Aadmi Party (3), JMM (3), IUML (3), and J-K National Conference (2), along with 13 others.
The non-aligned parties that have opposed the Bill include the AIMIM and Aazad Samaj Party, with 1 MP each, and the YSRCP, which has 4 MPs.
Government’s position and parliamentary proceedings
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill incorporates changes recommended by a 31-member Joint Committee of Parliament. It is scheduled to be taken up for consideration at noon on Wednesday, with eight hours allotted for discussion.
Following the deliberations, Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju is expected to respond to the debate and seek the House’s approval for the Bill’s passage. The Opposition, however, had earlier sought a longer discussion period of at least 12 hours.
As the debate unfolds, the Modi government appears firmly positioned to push the Bill through, leveraging its numerical advantage despite last-minute objections from allies.
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