INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
NEW DELHI: Ever since PM Narendra Modi made a public pitch for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in India, there is a strong buzz that the proposal
Getting the legislation through Lok Sabha will be easy for BJP since it has an overwhelming majority in the lower house
So all eyes will be on the Rajya Sabha, where BJP and allies are a few numbers short of majority
Notably, AAP has given a big hope to BJP since it has extended "in-principle" support to UCC
But will it be enough? How the numbers stack up ...In Rajya Sabha, there are a total of 245 seats out of which 8 are currently vacant
This means that there are 237 seats in the upper house.To get the legislation through, BJP will need the support of at least 119 Rajya Sabha
members.Currently, BJP has 92 members in the upper house
It lost one seat last week when Rajya Sabha member from Uttar Pradesh Hardwar Dubey passed away.Combined with other allies, the total
strength of BJP-led NDA in Rajya Sabha is 109.This means that it needs the support of 10 more members to successfully see a bill through the
When it comes to neutral parties, both BJD and YSR Congress have 9 members each
In case they both decide to support BJP on UCC, it will easily get the requisite numbers to clear the legislation.However, some reports have
suggested that Jagan Reddy's party may not back UCC in Rajya Sabha, which effectively means that BJP will fall short of 1 vote even if BJD
supports it in the House.This is why Aam Aadmi Party can be the ace in the hole
With 10 seats in Rajya Sabha (3 from Delhi, 7 from Punjab), the Arvind Kejriwal-led party's backing can help BJP get UCC cleared in
Upcoming Rajya Sabha pollsThe monsoon session of Parliament will likely begin in the third week of July and continue till mid-August.During
the sessions, polls for 10 Rajya Sabha seats, including those held by foreign minister S Jaishankar and Trinamool's Derek O'Brien, will also
They are slated for July 24These are unlikely to change equations much in the 237-member House as parties have adequate strength in the
However, the only change will be BJP gaining a seat in West Bengal at the expense of Congress.If that happens, the combined NDA strength
In that event, the support of either BJD or AAP can help the government pass UCC through Parliament.
