The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) recently saw a decrease in its strength in the Rajya Sabha as four nominated members completed their terms on July 13. These members – Rakesh Sinha, Ram Shakal, Sonal Mansingh, and Mahesh Jethmalani – were chosen by President Droupadi Murmu on the advice of the BJP and later aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.
Following their retirement, the BJP’s strength in the Upper House now stands at 86, while the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) comprises 101 members. This shift in numbers could have implications on the passing of crucial bills and policies.
With the Rajya Sabha currently having a total strength of 225 members, the majority mark is set at 113. The opposition Congress-led INDIA bloc has 87 members, including 26 from Congress, 13 from Trinamool Congress, and 10 each from Aam Aadmi Party and DMK.
With only 86 members in the Rajya Sabha, the government may need to rely on non-NDA parties such as AIADMK and YSR Congress Party to garner support for their legislative agenda. AIADMK and YSRCP have a combined strength of 15 members and have previously shown willingness to cooperate with the ruling party.
The landscape of non-NDA parties
In addition to AIADMK and YSRCP, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) led by Naveen Patnaik, with nine MPs in the Rajya Sabha, is a significant player. While the BJD previously supported the BJP, Naveen Patnaik has indicated a shift in alignment following the recent Odisha Assembly polls.
Moreover, the Bahujan Republican Socialist Party (BRS) with four MPs and independent members also hold sway as key players in the Rajya Sabha. Additionally, the presence of 12 nominated members, though non-aligned, often tend to support the ruling party.
As the political landscape evolves with upcoming assembly elections in states like Maharashtra, Haryana, and Jharkhand later this year, the composition of the Rajya Sabha is likely to witness further changes.
Rajya Sabha MPs are elected through a proportional representation process using the single transferable vote (STV) system by MLAs. Each MLA’s vote carries significant weight in determining the composition of the Upper House.
