After AAP defection, NDA only 17 seats short of two-thirds majority in RS
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New Delhi: Seven MPs from the Aam Aadmi Party in the Rajya Sabha switched sides on Friday, bringing the National Democratic Alliance closer to strengthening its numbers toward the two-thirds majority required for certain key votes and constitutional amendments.
Despite this development, the alliance is still short of the required mark. In the 244-member House, the two-thirds threshold stands at 163, while the NDA’s current strength has reportedly risen to 145 following the shift.
The Bharatiya Janata Party, which leads the alliance, is said to remain 10 seats short of a simple majority in the Upper House, presenting an ongoing challenge, The New Indian Express reported.
It is understood that, pending approval from Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan for the merger of the AAP parliamentary group with the BJP, the ruling party’s tally could increase to 113 from its present 106 members. Reports also suggest that the BJP is likely to receive backing from seven nominated members and two independents, potentially taking its support base to 122—considered the halfway mark.
Sources indicated that the defection of the seven AAP MPs could be formally recognised since they constitute more than two-thirds of the party’s strength in the Rajya Sabha.
If the NDA eventually secures a two-thirds majority in the Upper House, it is believed that passing key legislation, including constitutional amendments, would become significantly easier.
However, the alliance does not hold a two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha either. Although it has a simple majority there, it would need the backing of 363 MPs to meet the special majority requirement.
It was also noted that the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill—which proposed 33% reservation for women in legislatures from 2029 and an increase in Lok Sabha seats to 816—was defeated in the Lok Sabha on April 17, as the NDA fell short of the necessary two-thirds majority.
This marked the first instance during the current NDA government’s tenure that a constitutional amendment bill failed due to insufficient numbers in the House.