The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has pulled together major allies including the Janata Dal (United) JD(U), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) LJP (RV), and Telugu Desam Party TDP, in support of the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Bill. The support is crucial as the bill moves through Parliament, senior BJP leaders confirmed on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the BJP has instructed all its representatives to the Lok Sabha to attend the session in time for the discussions on the Bill at noon on Wednesday.
Both JD(U) and TDP are also said to have instructed their MPs to show up and support the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which proposes major changes in waqf property regulations.
In the Lok Sabha, the BJP needs at least 272 votes for the bill to pass. With 240 BJP MPs, plus support from JD(U) (12), TDP (16), LJP (RV) (5), Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) (2), and Shiv Sena (7), the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) appears to have the numbers to push the Waqf (Amendment) Bill through.
The Rajya Sabha equation also similarly appears to be in favour of NDA.
The NDA has 125 MPs—98 from the BJP, four from the JD(U), two from the TDP, three from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and one each from the Sena and RLD. In the 245-member house, the bill needs 119 votes to pass.
With additional support from single-member parties such as the Asom Gana Parishad and Tamil Mannila Congress, along with six nominated members, the NDA is confident of success.
Opposition Challenges Waqf (Amendment) Bill
Dismissing opposition’s claims of internal disagreement, a senior BJP leader said, “We have the numbers on our side. The Opposition is trying to spin a false narrative.”
The JD(U) and LJP (RV) also confirmed their support, rejecting concerns that the bill undermines minority rights. A senior JD(U) leader said that party representatives had already engaged with the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Waqf Board, and religious leaders to address concerns.
An LJP (RV) lawmaker also aligned with this view and said that the legislation will be advantageous to poor Muslims. “The Opposition is spinning the narrative. The bill is about welfare, not encroachments,” the leader said, adding that discussions may continue after the Bihar elections later this year.
Similarly, the TDP is as supportive of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. “We stand with the bill. Chandrababu Naidu has made it clear that we will work for the welfare of the Muslim community,” said party spokesperson Prem Kumar Jain.
With the key allies rallying behind the bill, the passage of Waqf (Amendment) Bill appears likely despite resistance from major opposition parties.
