Waqf Amendment Bill 2025: The Lok Sabha passed the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 on Thursday after an 11-hour long debate. The bill was passed after amendments made by the opposition members were negatived. The House sat beyond midnight to pass the legislation. The Waqf Amendment Bill, 2025 was tabled in Rajya Sabha at 1 pm today. While the bill has been passed in the Lok Sabha, political row around it is still in the country. The debate has also focused on the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, which are scheduled for this year.
The upcoming Bihar Legislative Assembly elections will be crucial in determining the political landscape and future of the state. Ahead of the voting of the bill in the Lok Sabha, there was speculation around how Janata Dal (United) would vote, considering the elections. The politics of appeasement in Indian politics is not new. There have been parties that have indirectly shown their stance on religious configurations and framed their manifestos, particularly targeting the specific communities.
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JDU To Face Setback In Bihar Elections?
If we talk about Bihar, the state is currently ruled by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar led JDU government in alliance with NDA. Nitish is holding the post for his 9th term. While the JDU will try to retain its stronghold, the opposition RJD is eyeing to rule the state. RJD is trying to position itself as Muslim sympathiser in the state, while for JDU, it is a "do or die" situation. Bihar’s political battle is a clear showdown between the ruling NDA and the opposition Mahagathbandhan.
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The stance of the voters will be crucial in deciding who will form the next government in Bihar. While political parties fear that the specific concentration of communities, caste and religion can shape the election results; we have seen certain elections that have proven it wrong. The fresh example being Haryana, where it was believed that the BJP will lose the ground due to the farmers’ protest, wrestler row and sway of Jaat votes. It has become clear that the vote of only one community will not change the political situation of any state.
However, the repercussions of the Waqf Bill will also be felt in the Bihar elections. Out of Bihar's 243 Assembly seats, 47 constituencies have a significant Muslim voter base. And this voter base' decision will be crucial in sketching the fate of the state. Therefore, the stand of parties on Waqf bill was crucial to observe. From yesterday’s voting, it has become clear who is with and who is against the bill. Now, it will be important to see how it will impact the Bihar Assembly elections. This is because prominent Muslim political leaders and the opposition opposed the bill stating it “unconstitutional” and “against the Muslims.” While Congress, TMC, RJD, SP, AIMIM opposed the bill, BJD and BRS remained neutral.
In the next year, assembly elections are scheduled to be held in six states. Among them, West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala are the major ones. Notably, there are large number of Muslim voters in these states. Muslim voters have an influence on 47 seats in Bihar. Nitish Kumar’s JDU has an alliance with NDA, in such situation it is set to face repercussions. RJD is in support of Waqf Bill, in this case, it is expected to increase the party’s voter base.
However, AIMIM can spoil its plans. The AIMIM at present is trying to expand its base beyond the Seemanchal region. It had fielded its candidates in 11 seats of Bihar during 2024 Lok Sabha election. AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi’s stand has been very clear on the Waqf Bill. Similarly in West Bengal, there are 292 Assembly seats and the ruling TMC has been getting Muslim votes for long. Muslim voters have an influence in more than 60 seats of the state.
Congress who has opposed the Waqf bill might get some luck in Bihar, but it won’t be able to form the government in its own. In such scenario, the party might spoil the number games. On the other hand, LJP led by Chirag Paswan, who is also an ally of NDA will try to gain maximum from the Bihar Assembly elections. It had won all the five seats in Lok Sabha elections. Notably, the LJP has voted in favour of the Waqf bill 2025.
Tejashwi Firm On Waqf Bill, Says 'Not Acceptable To Us'
While the JDU voted in support of the bill, here’s how the party leaders reacted it ahead of its tabling.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav earlier commented on the Waqf bill and stated that they believe in the 'Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb'. He highlighted that diversity of the country is its beauty. He emphasised that that his party will never accept the bill and it is not acceptable to them.
"This is an unconstitutional Bill. We are people who believe in the Constitution. People of BJP want to impose 'Nagpur ka kanoon'; that is not at all acceptable to us. We believe in 'Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb', the diversity of our country is the beauty of it. From the beginning, we have opposed the Bill in both Houses of Parliament as well as the Bihar Legislative Assembly or Bihar Legislative Council. We will oppose it even in the time to come. Such a Bill will never be acceptable to us. Despite his health condition, Lalu ji joined the protest. So, we are clear that we will never accept the Bill", added Yadav.
JDU MP Sanjay Jha stated that the bill should not implemented with retrospective effect. He hoped that the government would consider the suggestion. Jha added that as long as Nitish Kumar is in politics, the interests of the people would be protected.
Jha told ANI, "Nitish Kumar has been working in Bihar for the last 19 years. During this time, the work he has done for the Muslim community is also visible. Our party had said that it should not be implemented with retrospective effect, and we hope that the government will consider it... As long as Nitish Kumar is in politics, the interests of the people will be protected."
Meanwhile, JDU MLC Ghulam Gaus had opposed the Waqf Amendment Bill. He called it an attack on religious matters and accused the Centre of repeatedly targeting minorities with unfair policies.
Gaus told ANI, "I was the first person to oppose the Waqf Amendment Bill. Ever since this central government has come, sometimes there is love jihad, CAA, mob lynching, triple talaq and now this. This is our religious matter… centre did nothing to protect our rights."
It will be interesting to see how the Waqf bill shapes the political landscape of Bihar. How the Muslim voters will vote, how will RJD and JDU roll out their manifestos, which community will be focused will be interesting to see.
Also Read: Who Is Jagdambika Pal? The BJP MP And JPC Chairman Leading The Charge In The Controversial Waqf Bill