Many political parties have extended their support and expressed euphoria over the centre’s resolution to effectively scrap Article 370 that granted a special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir and the introduction of a bill to bifurcate the state into two Union Territories- Jammu and Kashmir with legislature and Ladakh region without a legislature.
The ruling party in the state of Tamil Nadu, AIADMK has extended their support to the government’s decision to repeal the temporary Article 370 and divide the state into 2 Union Territories. Similarly, BJD too has backed the Central Government’s bill on Kashmir.
AIADMK, an NDA ally has 1 seat in the Lok Sabha and 11 seats in the Rajya Sabha. Naveen Patnaik led BJD has 12 seats in the Lok Sabha and 7 seats in the Rajya Sabha.
AIADMK and BJD support govt on Kashmir Bills
— Bharti Jain (@bhartijainTOI) August 5, 2019
Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party(BSP) also seemed to be in concurrence with the BJP stance on Jammu and Kashmir. They too have sided with the government on the Kashmir sought to turn the state into two Union Territories. BSP has 10 MPs in the Lok Sabha and 4 in the Rajya Sabha.
Satish Chandra Mishra, BSP MP, in Rajya Sabha: Our party gives complete support. We want that the Bill be passed. Our party is not expressing any opposition to Article 370 Bill & the other Bill. pic.twitter.com/ajRNKwsUlf
— ANI (@ANI) August 5, 2019
BSP MP in Rajya Sabha, Satish Chandra Mishra declared in the Rajya Sabha that his party has no objection to the Article 370 resolution and the Jammu and Kashmir bifurcation bill.
Celebrations outside Shiv Sena Bhavan. Proud today as Indians, as we open up Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh to peace, progress and prosperity. pic.twitter.com/NCyq8x6wV5
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) August 5, 2019
Senior Shiv Sena leader Aditya Thackeray too tweeted the jubilation expressed by the Shiv Seniks outside his party office after Amit Shah made the declaration of doing away with Article 370. Shiv Sena, another NDA ally, has 18 MPs in the Lok Sabha and 3 in the Rajya Sabha.
Surprisingly, Aam Aadmi Party Chief Arvind Kejriwal too expressed his support for the government’s resolution to dispense with Article 370. Tweeting his support, Kejriwal hoped that the decision will bring peace and development in the state. AAP has 1 MP in the Lok Sabha and 3 in the Rajya Sabha.
We support the govt on its decisions on J & K. We hope this will bring peace and development in the state.
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) August 5, 2019
YSRCP has also sided with the BJP government at the centre to do away with Article 370, holding back the complete integration of the state of Jammu and Kashmir with India. Rallying behind the central government, Vijay Sai Reddy of YSRCP announced his party’s support to the government decision concerning Jammu and Kashmir.
Jagan Mohan Reddy led YSRCP has 22 members in the Lok Sabha and 2 members in the Rajya Sabha.
Chandrababu Naidu’s Telegu Desam Party too endorsed the Union government’s step to annul Article 370. TDP has 3 members in the Lok Sabha and 2 in the Rajya Sabha.
Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief Chandrababu Naidu supports Union Government’s decision to revoke Article 370. #JammuAndKashmir pic.twitter.com/YxEfNSRc96
— ANI (@ANI) August 5, 2019
The BJP has an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha with 303 seats on its own. In the Rajya Sabha, however, the NDA is just short of the majority mark. However, with the support of parties outside NDA, notably BJD and YSRCP, the bill is expected to be passed without a hindrance.
As the day progresses, more parties are expected to support the government’s stand on Article 370.
