Without the Shiv Sena, BJP hopes to pass the citizenship bill in Rajya Sabha

(PTI) New Delhi, Ta. December 10, 2019, Tuesday

The Citizenship Reform Bill was easily passed in the Lok Sabha amidst heavy stagnation on Monday. The bill will now be tabled in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

Since the BJP has a majority in the Lok Sabha, he had no problem in passing the bill, but since the BJP does not have a majority in the Rajya Sabha, it will be a true test. The BJP is hopeful that it will be able to pass this bill easily in the Rajya Sabha, just like in the Lok Sabha.

The bill will be discussed at 2.00 pm as per the Rajya Sabha working schedule. The Rajya Sabha has allocated 6 hours to discuss the bill.

After the debate, the bill will be passed through the Rajya Sabha. With the coming of JDU, Shiv Sena, 2nd Janata Dal and some parties from the Northeast in favor of the Citizenship Reform Bill, the Government had no difficulty in passing the bill in the Lok Sabha.

BJP sources said that the current number of members in the Rajya Sabha is 240, out of which they are likely to get 124 to 130 votes while the opposition will get only 90 to 93 votes.

BJP's NDA is expected to be accompanied by allied parties, like Annadramuk, JDU and Akali forces, and regional parties like BJD, YSR Congress and TDP. On the other hand, the opposition hopes to support six members of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and three members of the Shiv Sena, who support the Modi government in important bills.

The TRS has opposed the bill in the Lok Sabha when the Shiv Sena endorsed it. But the Rajya Sabha is likely to vote in opposition to the Shiv Sena bill. However, BJP sources clearly believe that the Citizens Reform Bill will be passed easily in the Rajya Sabha even though its members are few in number.