New Delhi. Naveen Patnaik’s party Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has now changed its stand on the Waqf Amendment Bill. After opposing the bill in the Lok Sabha, now the BJD has been asked by the BJD to vote at his discretion amid the ongoing discussion on the Rajya Sabha bill. The party will not release any whip for this. Biju Janata Dal Rajya Sabha MP and national spokesperson Sasmit Patra has shared the party’s views through social media posts. However, the BJD has not given any reason for this sudden change in its stance.
The biju janata dal has always uphed the Principles of Secularism and Inclusivity, ENSURING The Rights of All Communities. We Deeply Respect the Diverse Sentiments Expressed by different Sections of the Minority Communities Regarding The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. Our party,…
– ଡ଼ଃ ସସ୍ମିତ ପାତ୍ର I Dr. Sasmit patra (@sasmitpatra) April 3, 2025
BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra wrote, “Biju Janata Dal has always maintained the principles of secularism and inclusion and ensured the rights of all communities. We depth the diverse sentiments expressed by various sections of minority communities about the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. Our party, considering these ideas carefully, has entrusted our honorable members in the Rajya Sabha to exercise their conscience in the best interest of the rights of all communities, if the bill comes to vote. The party has no whip.
Let us tell you that BJP can benefit from BJD’s stance. The majority of passing the bill in the Rajya Sabha is 119. BJP and NDA have a total of 115 MPs. In this way the government has 4 members less than the majority. As such, the government is eyeing 6 nominated MPs of Rajya Sabha who can probably vote in favor of the bill, if the MP also supports the bill, then it will be beneficial for the government and it will be easy to pass the bill.
