With 6 nominated members, NDA has slender majority in RS
The Congress holds 27 seats in the Upper House, while its allies contribute an additional 58 members. This brings the total strength of the opposition alliance to 85 members. Despite these numbers, the ruling NDA, with the help of six nominated members, manages to maintain a slender majority in the Rajya Sabha. This political balance in the Upper House has set the stage for intense negotiations and debates on key bills and legislative matters. Both sides are closely monitoring shifts in support, with each vote becoming crucial in determining the passage of upcoming policies and reforms.
The BJP-led NDA holds a slim majority in the Rajya Sabha, thanks to the support of six nominated members, a crucial advantage that may allow the passage of key legislations like the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. Following the recent by-elections, the effective strength of the Upper House stands at 234 members. Out of these, the BJP holds 96 seats on its own, while the total number of NDA MPs has reached 113. The addition of six nominated members, who generally align their votes with the government, further increases the NDA’s total to 119, two seats above the halfway mark of 117 required for a majority.
The opposition alliance, led by the Congress, has 27 members in the Upper House. Combined with its allies, this number rises to 85. Although the NDA holds a slim majority, the political situation in the Rajya Sabha remains fluid, with several smaller parties and independents holding significant influence over the legislative process.
Among the key fence-sitters in the Rajya Sabha are the YSR Congress Party, which has nine members, and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) with seven members. These two parties are neither fully aligned with the NDA nor the opposition alliance, making their support critical in passing or blocking legislation. Additionally, there are four members from the AIADMK, three Independents, and other MPs from smaller parties who do not align themselves with either of the two major coalitions. This creates a scenario where political negotiations and alliances can play a pivotal role in determining the outcome of critical votes.
Four seats from Jammu and Kashmir in the Rajya Sabha remain vacant as the Union Territory has yet to establish its legislative assembly following its reorganization. The absence of these seats reduces the overall effective strength of the Rajya Sabha to 241. Along with the four vacancies in Jammu and Kashmir, there are seven other vacant seats, bringing the total number of vacancies to 11. These include four seats from Andhra Pradesh, one seat from Odisha, and two seats previously held by nominated members.
The recent political developments in the Rajya Sabha have seen the resignation of two members of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) and one member of the BJD. The BJD member, Sujeet Kumar, has since joined the BJP, and the BJP is expected to retain the seat in the upcoming bypoll, as it holds a majority in the Odisha assembly. Meanwhile, the two YSRCP members, M Venkataramana Rao and B Masthan Rao, who resigned last month, are expected to join the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), a BJP ally and the ruling party in Andhra Pradesh.
The support of these regional parties and independents has become increasingly significant as the BJP looks to solidify its position in the Rajya Sabha. The party’s success in maintaining a slender majority could determine the fate of several upcoming bills and amendments.
The BJP’s allies in the Rajya Sabha include a diverse array of regional and national parties, reflecting the NDA’s strategy of building a broad-based coalition. These allies include the Janata Dal (United), Nationalist Congress Party, Janata Dal (Secular), Republican Party of India (Athawale), Shiv Sena, Rashtriya Lok Dal, National People’s Party, PMK, Taamil Manila Congress, and the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL). Each of these parties brings its own political interests to the table, which could influence their support for various pieces of legislation.
Despite the NDA’s slender majority, the opposition is not without influence in the Upper House. The Congress and its allies, although outnumbered, still hold a significant block of seats that can challenge the government’s legislative agenda. Moreover, the opposition’s ability to forge alliances with fence-sitting parties like the YSR Congress Party and the BJD could tip the scales on contentious bills.
The Rajya Sabha’s current configuration, with multiple smaller parties and independents holding key votes, ensures that the legislative process will remain unpredictable in the near term. The BJP-led NDA will need to continue its efforts to secure the support of these non-aligned parties, while the opposition will similarly look for opportunities to sway fence-sitters to its side.
In summary, the BJP-led NDA’s slender majority in the Rajya Sabha, bolstered by the support of six nominated members, provides a delicate balance of power. While the NDA is currently in a position to pass key legislations, the role of smaller parties and independents, along with the opposition’s potential to form alliances, will play a crucial role in shaping the legislative landscape in the coming months. The 11 vacancies in the Upper House further add to the complexity, with upcoming by-elections likely to shift the balance of power once again.