J&K Reorganisation Bill: After Rajya Sabha’s nod, Modi sarkar eyes smooth sail in Lok Sabha

J&K Reorganisation Bill: After Rajya Sabha’s nod, Modi sarkar eyes smooth sail in Lok Sabha

The Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha on August 5 and is expected to sail through the Lok Sabha

The Lok Sabha will take up the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019 for consideration and passing on August 6. This comes a day after the Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha.

The J&K Reorganisation Bill proposes to bifurcate the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on August 5 had announced the proposal to turn J&K into a UT with a legislature and the Ladakh region into a separate UT without a legislature.

Also read | J&K to be UT with Legislature, Ladakh without: Here's the difference

Put to vote after a debate, the bill was passed in the Upper House with 125 for to 61 votes against. This, even as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) does not command a majority in the House.

RELATED NEWS
Jammu & Kashmir LIVE updates: Article 370 has only benefited three families of J&K, says Amit Shah in Lok Sabha
Article 370 revoked in J&K: A look at 10 other states in India with special provisions
Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail net profit rises over threefold to Rs 21.56 crore in June quarter
The Bill got a smooth passage after many non-aligned parties including the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) backed it. Naveen Patnaik's Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) also extended their support to the Bill.

The only member party of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) which did not support the Bill was Janata Dal (United). Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led party staged a walkout.

Also read: Opinion | Revoking Article 370 is Modi govt’s biggest surgical strike yet

How the Bill could sail smoothly in the Lok Sabha

At present, the strength of the Lok Sabha is 541. The BJP itself has 302 elected MPs who are eligible to vote (minus Speaker Om Birla).

The government needs a simple majority to pass the Bill. The saffron party has issued a whip ordering all its MPs to be present in the Lok Sabha. The party’s current tally would be enough for the Bill to be passed.

It is expected that the parties would vote the same way as they voted in the Rajya Sabha. The YSRCP has 22 MPs while the BJD has 12 MPs in the House.

The Centre on August 5 had also moved a resolution revoking Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. Shah informed the House that President Ram Nath Kovind has signed the official notification abrogating Article 370.

Follow LIVE updates of the J&K developments here

Subscribe to Moneycontrol Pro and gain access to curated markets data, exclusive trading recommendations, independent equity analysis, actionable investment ideas, nuanced takes on macro, corporate and policy actions, practical insights from market gurus and much more.

Follow us: