BJP’s ‘Mission 360’ Explained: Why NDA Still Needs 6 More MPs to Pass Women’s Reservation & Delimitation Bills

As Parliament's Monsoon Session is set to begin on July 20, the BJP has intensified its political strategy to secure enough support for two key constitutional proposals—the Women's Reservation Bill and the Delimitation Bill. The ruling NDA is attempting to gather the numbers needed after failing to pass the legislation during Parliament's special session earlier this year.

The proposed Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill could not clear Parliament previously because the government fell short of the mandatory two-thirds majority required for constitutional amendments. With political developments reshaping alliances in recent months, the BJP now believes it has a better chance of reviving the legislation during the upcoming session.

A constitutional amendment requires the support of at least 360 MPs in the 540-member Lok Sabha. According to political sources, the NDA currently has the backing of around 293 MPs, leaving it well short of the required figure. The BJP's strategy, internally referred to as 'Mission 360', is aimed at bridging this gap by securing issue-based support from regional parties and independent MPs.

The BJP's calculations are based on several possible political shifts. If support comes from 20 MPs linked to the breakaway Trinamool Congress faction and 22 DMK MPs, the alliance's strength could rise to nearly 335 MPs. Additional backing from YSR Congress Party MPs and an Independent member could take the tally to around 340.

The ruling alliance is also factoring in recent political changes in Maharashtra. Reports suggesting that six MPs from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) may move closer to the NDA could increase the numbers further. If Sharad Pawar's NCP faction, which has eight Lok Sabha MPs, also extends support on the constitutional amendment, the NDA's strength could reach approximately 354 MPs.

Even under this optimistic scenario, the government would still need the support of six more MPs to cross the crucial 360-member mark required to amend the Constitution.

Political activity has intensified ahead of the session. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president Nitin Nabin, and senior organisational leaders have held multiple strategy meetings over the past week to prepare the government's legislative agenda and parliamentary floor management.

According to political sources, the discussions covered not only the BJP's organisational restructuring but also plans to build consensus on key Bills expected during the Monsoon Session. The leadership is also assessing the Opposition's likely strategy and the possibility of securing support from regional parties on specific issues.

The government is reportedly hopeful that the current political environment is more favourable than it was during the previous attempt. Changing equations among opposition parties have triggered speculation that some regional parties could adopt an issue-based approach rather than voting as a united bloc.

However, no party has officially announced support for the proposed constitutional amendment. Leaders from several opposition parties have maintained that their stand will become clear only after the government introduces the final version of the Bill in Parliament.

Adding to the political significance of the session, the Centre has convened an all-party meeting on July 19, where it is expected to brief political parties about the government's legislative agenda. The Monsoon Session will commence on July 20, followed by the NDA Parliamentary Party meeting on July 21, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to address alliance MPs.

Whether the BJP's 'Mission 360' succeeds will ultimately depend on whether it can convert ongoing political outreach into parliamentary votes. Until the Bill is formally introduced and voting takes place, the government's numbers remain a matter of political speculation rather than certainty.