Ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament starting on July 20, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is increasing its political engagement. The government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, plans to reintroduce the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill during this session. This bill aims to implement women’s reservation in the Lok Sabha along with the proposed delimitation of Parliamentary constituencies.
The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is striving to bolster its numbers and broaden political support before the Bill is presented again. Recent reports suggest that the BJP is optimistic about the current political climate compared to a few months ago. High-level meetings, including one at PM Modi’s residence with key BJP leaders, have been held to strategize on the legislative agenda.
Political focus is particularly on parties like the DMK, with 22 MPs, whose stance could be crucial despite previous opposition to Delimitation. With the Lok Sabha currently having 540 members, any constitutional amendment requires the backing of at least 360 MPs. Estimates indicate that the NDA presently has support from around 293 MPs, with potential additional support from other parties.
Sources reveal that the BJP is considering recent political shifts in Maharashtra and exploring various avenues to garner necessary support for the legislation. Discussions are ongoing with different parties to secure the required majority for the proposed Bills. The government is also convening an all-party meeting on July 19 to discuss the legislative agenda before the Monsoon Session commences.
