Four nominated MPs have retired, bringing the BJP’s strength in the 245-member House down to 86, and the party-led NDA’s strength down to 101. Both numbers are below the existing majority mark of 113.
Rakesh Sinha, Ram Shakal, Sonal Mansingh, and Mahesh Jethmalani, four of the BJP’s nominated members, finished their terms on Saturday, reducing the party’s majority in the Rajya Sabha by four seats.
On the recommendation of the ruling party, President Droupadi Murmu selected all four as non-aligned members. Subsequently, they formally associated with the administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
With their retirement, the National Democratic Alliance, led by the BJP, now has 101 members, while the BJP has 86, less than the current majority of 113 in the 245-member House. Nonetheless, the seven nominated MPs who are still in the NDA’s camp as well as one independent back them.
The Rajya Sabha currently has 225 members.
The ruling Trinamool Party of Bengal has thirteen, the Aam Aadmi Party has ten, and the DMK, which is in charge of Delhi and Tamil Nadu, has ten. The Congress leads the opposition INDIA group with 87.
Independents occupy the remaining seats, while parties not affiliated with either the BJP or the Congress—like the BRS of former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao—nominate MPs.
There are 225 members in the Rajya Sabha at the moment.
The Aam Aadmi Party and the DMK, which are in control of Delhi and Tamil Nadu, have ten apiece, while the Congress, which leads the INDIA bloc, has 87. The Trinamool, which rules Bengal, has thirteen.
The remaining MPs are nominated by independents and parties not associated with either the BJP or the Congress, like the BRS of former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao.
What Do BJP’s Reduced Numbers Mean?
It implies that in order to pass measures in the Upper House, the administration continues to rely on non-NDA parties, such as the YSR Congress Party, which Jagan Mohan Reddy, the former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, and the AIADMK of Tamil Nadu, among others. This will continue until elections for the 11 open seats, which are scheduled for this year, are finished and the BJP is able to fill the four nominated seats.
At least eight of these seats are anticipated to go to the BJP.
At present, the BJP requires the support of 15 NDA parties and an additional 12 to enact measures.
Of those twelve, seven might be selected from the remaining MP nominees. An independent member may score an eight, meaning the ruling party is only four points shy of the threshold.
The YSRCP (11) is the BJP’s most obvious choice to reach that threshold.
Given that Jagan Reddy’s YSRCP has historically supported the BJP on the basis of issues, Mr. Modi’s party appears to be guaranteed those 11 votes. Similar support was also provided by the BJD of former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, although it has stated it will not do so going forward after losing to the BJP in the May–June state election.
Nine Rajya Sabha MPs are from the BJD.
The number of nominated members is limited to a maximum of 12. Despite being non-aligned upon appointment, government-selected officials frequently back the governing party.
How Many Vacant Seats In Rajya Sabha
There are now 20 open seats, 11 of which are held by elected officials and for which this year’s polls are anticipated. Of these, one each in Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, and Tripura, and two in each of Maharashtra, Assam, and Bihar.
With representatives from Assam, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Tripura, the BJP-led alliance has the numbers to win seven. It will also win two more from Maharashtra if it can manage to keep its flock together there.
As a result, the BJP might get up to nine additional seats. It will have more than enough votes to surpass the majority threshold if it receives those votes in addition to those of the YSRCP and the nominated members.
In accordance with a Supreme Court ruling, Jammu and Kashmir, which has four open seats, is scheduled to hold an Assembly election by September 30.
The Congress, which stormed to power last year, is probably going to win the Telangana seat.
This is significant because it will provide the party with enough votes to secure the Rajya Sabha position of Leader of the Opposition. After that, the LoP seat in both Houses will be held by the Congress.
