BJP's Rajya Sabha Tally Dips, NDA Now 12 Below Majority Mark

As a result of the retirement of four nominated members of parliament, the strength of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decreased to 86, while the strength of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has decreased to 101. Notably, the current majority mark in the House of Representatives is 113.

After the terms of four nominated members, Rakesh Sinha, Ram Shakal, Sonal Mansingh, and Mahesh Jethmalani, were finished on Saturday, the strength of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Rajya Sabha decreases by four.

President Droupadi Murmu on the suggestion of the ruling party selected all four of them as non-aligned members, and later, they formally affiliated themselves with the administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The BJP’s strength has decreased to 86 as a result of their retirement, while the National Democratic Alliance, which is led by the party, has reached 101. Both of these numbers are lower than the existing majority mark of 113 in the House of Representatives, which has 245 members. It is currently estimated that there are 225 members in the Rajya Sabha.

INDIA is governed by the Congress party, which has 87 members. The Congress party has 26 members, the Trinamool, which is the dominant party in Bengal, has 13, and the Aam Aadmi Party and the DMK, who are in power in Delhi and Tamil Nadu, each have 10 members.

Parties that are not affiliated with either the BJP or the Congress, such as the BRS, which was led by the former Chief Minister of Telangana, K Chandrashekar Rao, as well as nominated members of parliament and independents, hold the remaining seats.

What Do BJP’s Reduced Numbers Mean?

The government is now dependent on non-NDA parties, such as the AIADMK of Tamil Nadu, which was a former ally of the government, and the YSR Congress Party, which was led by Jagan Mohan Reddy, who was the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh at the time, in order to pass laws in the Upper House.

By this point in time, assuming that the BJP is able to count on the 15 votes from the members of parliament belonging to the NDA parties, it will require a minimum of thirteen additional “aye” votes in order to pass laws.

The BJP’s two most evident “allies” are the YSRCP (11) and the AIADMK (4), despite the fact that its relationship with the latter has been tense ever since they parted ways in December of the previous year, which was many months before the election.

As a result of the fact that Jagan Reddy’s YSRCP has previously provided issue-based support to the BJP, it appears that Mr. Modi’s party will receive at least 11 votes. Although the BJD, which was led by Naveen Patnaik, the former Chief Minister of Odisha, provided such support as well, it has stated that it will not do so anymore because it was defeated by the BJP in the state election that took place in May and June.

The BJD is represented in the Rajya Sabha by nine members of parliament.

In the event that the AIADMK is hesitant to provide support and the BJD led by Naveen Patnaik has declined to do so, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will then turn to votes from members who have been nominated.

Within the Rajya Sabha, there are a total of twelve members that have been nominated. When they are brought in, they are non-aligned; but, because they are chosen by the government, in reality, they tend to support the party that is currently out of power.

It is also possible that non-aligned parties, such as the BRS, which has four members of parliament, and independents will play a role.

How Many Vacant Seats In Rajya Sabha

At the moment, there are a total of twenty seats that are vacant, eleven of which are occupied by elected members and for which elections are anticipated to take place this year. There are two seats available in each of the states of Maharashtra, Assam, and Bihar, and there is one seat available in each of the states of Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, and Tripura.

Assam, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Tripura are the five states that the alliance led by the BJP has the potential to win seven consecutive elections. In addition, if it is successful in maintaining its flock in Maharashtra, it will be able to gain two more from that state.

The BJP might receive as many as nine additional seats as a result of this. It will have more than enough votes to cross the majority threshold if it is successful in winning those, as well as the votes of the members who were nominated, and the votes of the YSRCP.

According to an order from the Supreme Court, Jammu and Kashmir is scheduled to have an Assembly election by the 30th of September. In addition, there are four seats that are now empty in the state.

The Congress party, which swept to power in the previous year, is anticipated to emerge victorious in the Telangana seat.

The significance of this lies in the fact that it will provide the party with sufficient votes to secure the position of Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. After then, the Congress will successfully occupy the Lo seat in both Houses.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its alliance, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), have seen a dip in their Rajya Sabha tally, now standing at 12 seats below the majority mark of 113. This situation has significant implications for both the BJP and the broader political landscape in India.

The Rajya Sabha, the upper house of India’s Parliament, has a total of 245 seats. However, with five seats currently vacant (four from Jammu and Kashmir and one in the nominated category), the effective strength of the house is 240, making the majority mark 121. The BJP currently holds 86 seats, with the NDA collectively holding 101 seats, leaving them 12 seats short of the majority.

Several factors have contributed to the current numbers. Four nominated members—Rakesh Sinha, Ram Shakal, Sonal Mansingh, and Mahesh Jethmalani—recently completed their terms, reducing the BJP’s tally. Despite these setbacks, the BJP managed to gain some ground through cross-voting, which helped them secure additional seats in states like Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh.

Being below the majority mark in the Rajya Sabha poses challenges for the BJP-led NDA in passing legislation. Historically, having a majority in the Lok Sabha (the lower house) has allowed the BJP to pass significant bills, such as the abrogation of Article 370 and the Triple Talaq Bill, with the help of allied and neutral parties. However, the lack of a majority in the Rajya Sabha means that any contentious legislation could face significant hurdles.

The BJP’s position as the single-largest party in the Rajya Sabha is crucial but not sufficient for unchallenged legislative success. The Congress, with 29 members, and other opposition parties such as the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are significant players in the house. The NDA’s ability to secure the majority in future elections or through strategic alliances will be critical for its legislative agenda.

The dip in the BJP’s Rajya Sabha tally also reflects broader electoral challenges. In recent assembly bypolls, the opposition I.N.D.I.A. bloc, comprising parties like the Congress and TMC, made significant gains, winning 10 out of 13 seats. This shift indicates a potential resurgence of the opposition, which could impact the BJP’s performance in future elections.

Going forward, the BJP and NDA will need to focus on building and maintaining alliances with regional parties and independent members to navigate the legislative process. The support of parties like the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) has been instrumental in the past and will continue to be vital.

In conclusion, the BJP’s dip in Rajya Sabha seats underscores the complex and dynamic nature of Indian politics. The coming months will be crucial as the BJP and its allies strategize to regain ground and ensure smooth legislative operations in the face of a resurgent opposition.

The recent developments in the Rajya Sabha, India’s upper house of Parliament, have seen a significant dip in the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) tally, bringing the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to 12 seats below the majority mark.

This shift in the political landscape has profound implications for the BJP-led NDA’s ability to pass legislation and maintain its influence in the legislative process.

The Rajya Sabha, also known as the Council of States, is one of the two houses of India’s bicameral Parliament. Unlike the Lok Sabha, which represents the people directly through elected representatives, the Rajya Sabha represents the states and union territories of India. Members of the Rajya Sabha are elected by the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies and by the members of the Electoral college for Union Territories, using single transferable votes, and through open ballots.

The Rajya Sabha plays a crucial role in the legislative process, providing a check on the Lok Sabha and ensuring that the interests of the states are considered in national legislation. It has the power to delay legislation, suggest amendments, and debate bills, although it cannot veto money bills. A majority in the Rajya Sabha is therefore essential for the smooth passage of most legislation.

As of now, the Rajya Sabha has a total of 245 seats, but five seats are currently vacant, reducing the effective strength to 240. The majority mark, therefore, stands at 121. The BJP, which is the largest party in the Rajya Sabha, holds 86 seats. The NDA, the coalition led by the BJP, collectively holds 101 seats, which is 12 seats short of the majority mark.

Several factors have contributed to the recent decline in the BJP’s tally in the Rajya Sabha. One significant reason is the completion of terms of several nominated members who had aligned with the BJP. Additionally, the BJP has faced setbacks in recent assembly bypolls, where the opposition I.N.D.I.A. bloc made substantial gains, winning 10 out of 13 seats.

The BJP managed to secure some additional seats through cross-voting in states like Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh, but these gains were not enough to offset the overall decline. The loss of seats in key states has weakened the BJP’s position in the Rajya Sabha, making it more challenging for the NDA to achieve a majority.