India
oi-Ashish Rana
The BJP is all set to improve its seats in Rajya Sabha after the upcoming by-elections in West Bengal, with that BJP will get touching majority in Rajya Sabha. The is supposed to happen before Parliament Monsoon Session which will allow centre to pass multiple bills including delimitation, women’s reservation and also simultaneous elections.
Following July 24th West Bengal by-elections, BJP expects its Rajya Sabha seats to reach 117, the highest ever, after three TMC MPs joined. This boosts NDA numbers to 152, strengthening its position for passing bills, though constitutional amendments may need additional support.
Bengal By-Elections Set To Increase BJP’s Numbers
The immediate increasing in BJP’s seat is expected to come after Rajya Sabha by-elections which is schedule to happen on 24 July. These opportunity became after three TMC MPs resigned from Rajya Sabha and joined BJP.
Now when BJP holds majority in West Bengal, the party is expected to get all three seats without facing any fight. Once the new BJP Rajya Sabha MP’s will take oath, the total numbers of Rajya Sabha seats will increase to 117, which will be the highest in BJP’s all time history. However, NDA’s total numbers will reach to 152 members in Rajya Sabha.
BJP Now Just Six Seats Short Of A Majority
With this, BJP will reach a point that it will only be six seats away from the majority mark itself, leaving beside NDA total numbers. That itself will increase their strength in Rajya Sabha to pass any bill.
The interesting thing is that no political party has every got that much majority in Rajya Sabha since 1986, before that former PM Rajiv Gandhi led had that numbers in Rajya Sabha. However, BJP will still be short of 6 seats, although NDA’s strength will increase which will make ordinary bills to be passed in upcoming parliament sessions.
Constitutional Bills Will Still Need Wider Support
However, this advantage will still fall short for the government in terms of approving constitutional amendments. The central government is going to introduce important constitutional bills, including bills related to delimitation and women’s reservation. If the whole Rajya Sabha will be present on the voting days, then these bills will be needed 166 votes to pass in Rajya Sabha.
Although, NDA still can get the bills passed as if they get support from others or regional parties get absent on the particular day. For that, BJP has a scenario, YSR Congress Party, which has four Rajya Sabha MPs and DMK that has eight MPs could help the government or easily stay absent during the voting.
While Bijju Janta Dal has already supported women’s reservation so that also means either the party vote for it or miss that day. One independent MP Parimal Nathwani and one NCP(SP) MP is also going to vote for NDA.
The absence of the opposition parties can get BJP to get lesser numbers to pass those bills, which will be a big boost to centre. Rajya Sabha has 250 seats which also includes 12 members which are nominated by President of India.
