Waqf Bill: Narrow margin of defeat in Rajya Sabha surprises Opposition

Proceedings of the Rajya Sabha during Budget Session in New Delhi on April 3, 2025.
| Photo Credit: Sansad TV via ANI

With the Bharatiya Janata Party and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on the cusp of finalising their alliance, the Tamil Nadu party voted with the Opposition against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Rajya Sabha, while the Biju Janata Dal did not issue a whip allowing its members to “exercise their conscience” to decide their vote, but a majority of the members voted against the Bill.

Unlikely collaborators came together in the Upper House to narrow the gap between the Opposition and Treasury benches as the controversial Bill went for division at 2.30 a.m. in Rajya Sabha. As many as 128 MPs voted in favour of the Bill and 95 went against it, taking the Opposition by surprise. The gap in the Upper House was much narrower than in Lok Sabha, where the bill passed by a margin of 56 votes.

The INDIA bloc together has only 81 members in the Upper House. Their united strength is less than the BJP’s tally of 98 members. At least six of their members, as per sources, for various reasons were absent.

The additional votes against the Bill were contributed by the AIADMK, BRS, YSR Congress and BJD.

Last month, the AIADMK had supported the DMK-sponsored resolution against the Waqf Bill in Tamil Nadu Assembly. Making a brief and circumspect intervention past 10 p.m. without directly opposing the Bill, AIADMK leader M. Thambidurai said: “AIADMK party is keen that the Muslim community’s interests are protected and safeguarded. I request the present government that AIADMK’s plea be considered.” He underlined the AIADMK’s work for the minorities in the past. The AIADMK has four members in Rajya Sabha, and all four of them were present and voted against the Bill.

According to sources, four of the seven BJD members voted with the Opposition. Its leader Sasmit Patra and MP Sulata Deo voted in favour of the Bill with the government. In a post at 6 p.m. on X, Mr. Patra said the BJD always upheld “principles of secularism and inclusivity” ensuring the rights of all communities.

While deeply respecting the diverse sentiments, he said, the party has entrusted members in Rajya Sabha “the responsibility of exercising their conscience in the best interest of justice, harmony and the rights of all communities, should the Bill come up for voting. There is no party whip.” Debasish Samantray, BJD Rajya Sabha member, abstained from voting after displaying displeasure over a last-minute decision not to issue a whip. The absence of the whip was questioned by many since BJD supremo and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced in clear terms that his party will oppose the Bill.

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The numbers also indicate that the majority of YSR Congress MPs also voted against the Bill. The party’s MP Yerram Venkata Subba Reddy had opposed the Bill using the opportunity to also attack political rival Telugu Desam Party (TDP) for failing the 50 lakh Muslims of Andhra Pradesh.

(With inputs from Satyasundar Barik)