Isabella Carter
The Indian Constitution is one of the most frequently amended governing documents in the world, requiring a two-thirds majority in both houses of Parliament to make any changes. The BJP has expressed intentions to amend the Constitution, specifically removing the word secular from its preamble. To do so, they would need a two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, as well as control of over 20 states. While the BJP currently holds a majority in the Lok Sabha, they lack sufficient votes in the Rajya Sabha and among state governments. The BJP's push for simultaneous federal and state polls, or the One Nation, One Election bill, has faced opposition and failed to gain the required two-thirds support in the Lok Sabha. As of December 2024, voting on two bills to amend the Constitution demonstrated that the BJP lacked the necessary two-thirds majority to pass constitutional amendments.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| BJP's intention | To amend the Constitution and remove the word "secular" from its preamble |
| Requirement for amendment | Two-thirds majority in both houses of Parliament |
| BJP's current position | Two-thirds majority in Lok Sabha but not in Rajya Sabha |
| BJP's plan | Win more than 400 seats in Lok Sabha to eventually gain a similar majority in Rajya Sabha and come to power in two-thirds of states |
| Recent vote | BJP secured 269 votes out of 461 in Lok Sabha, falling short of the required 307 votes for a two-thirds majority |
| BJP's stance | Need support from non-aligned parties to pass bills for amending the Constitution |
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What You'll Learn
BJP MP Anantkumar Hegde's intention to amend the Constitution
BJP MP Anantkumar Hegde has sparked controversy by asserting that his party must secure 400 Lok Sabha seats in the upcoming elections to "rectify" the Constitution and undo the perceived harm caused by Congress over the years. Addressing BJP workers in Siddapur taluk on Saturday, Hegde said Congress had amended the Constitution "many times" and adopted "anti-people" and “unnecessary” policies. He claimed that the BJP would need to win a two-thirds majority in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, as well as hold power in at least 20 states, to amend the Constitution. Hegde's comments have been criticised by Congress leaders, who have accused him of revealing the BJP's "'hidden intentions'". The BJP has distanced itself from Hegde's remarks, describing them as his personal views and not those of the party. Hegde has previously faced controversy over similar comments in 2017 and 2019, and later apologised for his statements.
In response to Hegde's remarks, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the BJP, stating that Hegde's comments revealed the "hidden intentions" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Sangh Parivar. Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress chief D. K. Shivakumar echoed similar sentiments, accusing the BJP of being anti-Constitution. He challenged the BJP to amend the Constitution, stating that it would prove their opposition to the principles laid out by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.
While Hegde's comments have sparked debate and controversy, it is important to note that the BJP does not currently have the required two-thirds majority in both houses of Parliament to amend the Constitution unilaterally. As of December 2024, voting has indicated that the BJP lacks the necessary majority to pass constitutional amendments.
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The BJP's two-thirds majority in Lok Sabha
The BJP has been seeking a two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian Parliament, to amend the country's constitution. The BJP MP Anantkumar Hegde has reiterated the party's intention to amend the Constitution and remove the word "secular" from its preamble. Hegde has called on the public to ensure a two-thirds majority for the BJP in the Lok Sabha to make changes to the country's founding document.
To amend the Constitution, the BJP needs a two-thirds majority in both houses of Parliament, the Lok Sabha, and the Rajya Sabha, as well as control of two-thirds of the states. In 2024, Hegde stated that the BJP needed to win more than 400 seats in the Lok Sabha polls to eventually help in mustering a similar majority in the Rajya Sabha and coming to power in two-thirds of the states. However, in the same year, during a division vote on two Constitutional Amendment bills that would permit simultaneous federal and state elections, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance fell short of the required two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha, securing only 269 votes out of the necessary 307.
The BJP's push for a two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha has faced criticism from opposition parties, who have dubbed it an attack on the federal structure. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor stated that the voting on the simultaneous election bills demonstrated that the BJP did not have the required two-thirds majority to pass a constitutional amendment. The BJP will need support from non-aligned parties to pass the bills to amend the Constitution. Prime Minister Narendra Modi would need at least nine more votes to achieve his "`one nation, one election'" dream.
The BJP's pursuit of a two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha and its intention to amend the Constitution have sparked controversy. In 2017, Hegde, the then Union Minister of State for Skill Development, faced backlash for his comments regarding changing the Constitution. He subsequently apologised in the Lok Sabha but maintained that his statement had been distorted. Critics of the BJP's agenda argue that it is anti-Constitution and goes against the principles laid down by Babasaheb Ambedkar.
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The BJP's stance on removing the word secular from the Constitution's preamble
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has expressed its intention to remove the words "socialism" and "secularism" from the Preamble of the Indian Constitution. The party, which is the ruling political organisation in India, has justified this move by claiming that it seeks to restore the Constitution to its original form, as envisioned by Baba Saheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar. The Preamble initially read: "We, the People of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a Sovereign Democratic Republic" securing for its citizens "Justice... Equality... Liberty... and Fraternity". However, the 42nd Amendment in 1976 altered this to "..Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic..." and introduced the expression "integrity" after "unity", now reading "..assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation...".
The BJP's stance on removing the word "secular" from the Preamble stems from its belief that the inclusion of these words during the Emergency period—a time of dictatorship—was inappropriate for a democratic India. They argue that by removing "secularism", they are preserving the original intent of the Constitution. However, critics argue that the BJP's objection is not about restoring the original form of the Constitution but specifically targeting the word "secularism". This is because, despite their claims, the BJP has not pushed for the removal of the word "socialism", which also did not appear in the original Preamble.
The BJP's efforts to amend the Constitution have faced opposition from various quarters, including Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who stated that the BJP lacks the required two-thirds majority in both houses of Parliament to pass a constitutional amendment. Additionally, the BJP's stance has been criticised as a biased attempt to impose a particular ideological agenda on the country. In response to the BJP's efforts, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, accused the BJP of conspiring to replace the Constitution with the Manusmriti, an ancient Hindu legal text.
To successfully amend the Constitution, the BJP requires a two-thirds majority in both houses of Parliament and control of more than 20 state governments. While the BJP has expressed confidence in achieving this goal, it has not yet been able to secure the necessary votes, as demonstrated by the voting results on two bills for simultaneous elections in the Lok Sabha in December 2024.
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The BJP's one nation, one election push
The BJP's 'one nation, one election' push is part of the party's agenda to amend India's Constitution. On December 17, 2024, the Lok Sabha held a division vote to introduce two Constitutional Amendment bills that would permit simultaneous federal and state elections. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government formally introduced the bills in Parliament with a simple majority of 269 MPs in favour and 198 opposed. However, critics of the 'one nation, one election' bill claim that the BJP lacks the required support to pass the bills.
According to the rules, Constitutional amendments require the support of two-thirds of the members present and voting to clear the Lok Sabha. In this case, 307 out of 461 votes were needed to pass the bill, but the BJP fell short. The BJP currently has 293 MPs, while the opposition has 234. To achieve its 'one nation, one election' goal, the BJP will need to secure additional votes from non-aligned parties and increase its majority in the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and state governments.
BJP MP Anantkumar Hegde has stated that the party aims to amend the Constitution by removing the word "secular" from its preamble. Hegde urged the public to ensure a two-thirds majority for the BJP in both houses of Parliament to make these changes. However, the BJP's efforts to amend the Constitution have faced opposition, with critics arguing that it would undermine the foundational values of the nation.
The BJP's pursuit of its 'one nation, one election' agenda through Constitutional amendments highlights the party's desire for a unified electoral process across India. While the BJP has made strides towards this goal, it continues to face challenges in securing the necessary support for its proposed amendments.
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The BJP's need for support from non-aligned parties
The BJP has expressed its intention to amend the Constitution of India to remove the word "secular" from its preamble. To do so, the BJP needs a two-thirds majority in both houses of Parliament, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Additionally, they need to be in power in more than 20 states to have a two-thirds majority among the state governments.
In December 2024, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) attempted to introduce two Constitutional Amendment bills to permit simultaneous federal and state elections as part of their '"one nation, one election" push'. However, they fell short of the required two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha, securing only 269 votes out of the necessary 307. The BJP currently has 293 MPs, which is not enough to push through Constitutional amendments.
As a result, the BJP will need to seek support from non-aligned parties to pass their proposed amendments. They have already secured the support of the YSR Congress with four MPs and the Akali Dal with one MP. Prime Minister Narendra Modi still requires at least nine more votes to achieve his 'one nation, one election' goal. In a full-strength Lok Sabha, the BJP would need 64 additional votes.
The BJP's pursuit of Constitutional amendments has faced criticism, with Congress MP Manickam Tagore stating that the 'One Nation, One Election' proposal failed to gain two-thirds support. Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress chief D K Shivakumar have also accused the BJP of being anti-Constitution, urging them to amend the Constitution given by Babasaheb Ambedkar.
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Frequently asked questions
A two-thirds majority is required in both houses of Parliament to amend the Indian Constitution.
No. While the BJP has a two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha, it does not have the required majority in the Rajya Sabha.
BJP MP Anantkumar Hegde has stated that the BJP intends to amend the Constitution and remove the word "secular" from its preamble.
Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress chief D K Shivakumar have stated that the BJP is anti-Constitution. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has also criticized the BJP's attempts to amend the constitution, saying that the votes have demonstrated that the BJP does not have the required majority.
