After AAP MPs Switch Sides, NDA Now 18 Members Short Of Two-Thirds Majority In RS

NEW DELHI : The NDA Friday got a boost after seven AAP MPs switched sides but the ruling alliance is still 18 members short of a two-thirds majority in Rajya Sabha and the BJP 10 MPs short of a simple majority of its own in the Upper House.
The NDA now has the support of 145 MPs in the upper house. The two-thirds majority mark in the house, which has a total strength of 244, now stands at 163.
Once the NDA gets a two-third majority in the Upper House, it won’t be difficult for it to clear crucial legislations requiring constitutional amendments.
The NDA does not have a two-thirds majority in Lok Sabha too, even though it enjoys a simple majority. It needs the support of 363 MPs for a two-thirds majority in Lok Sabha.
After Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan approves the merger of AAP Parliamentary Party into the BJP, the ruling party will have a total of 113 MPs. At present, the BJP has 106 MPs.
The ruling party is also likely to get the support of seven nominated members and two independent MPs, which puts the number of those who are in BJP’s support at 122, exactly the half-way mark.
Sources said the seven AAP MPs who switched over to BJP may get nod as they comprise more than two-thirds of the AAP Parliamentary Party in Rajya Sabha. The crucial Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill to implement 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures in 2029 and increase the number of Lok Sabha seats to 816 was defeated in Lok Sabha on April 17, after NDA failed to get a two-thirds majority.
This was the first time during the current NDA government that a constitution amendment bill was defeated.
Chadha said while exercising the provisions of the Constitution, more than two-thirds of the AAP MPs in Rajya Sabha have merged with the BJP.
“Seven MPs have signed the document, which was submitted to the Hon’ble Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. I, along with two other MPs, personally handed over the signed documents,” Chadha said on X. (Agencies)