BJP’s Rajya Sabha tally dips after retirement of 4 members. Will this impact passage of key bills during Budget session?
BJP retired, reducing the party’s strength in the Upper House to 86 and the NDA’s to 101, from a current total of 226 due to 19 vacancies.
Despite this reduction, the NDA can still pass key legislation with the support of seven non-aligned nominated members, two Independents, and allied parties such as AIADMK and YSRCP during the upcoming budget session. However, promptly filling the vacancies in the nominated category is essential to minimize the alliance's reliance on these external supports.
The retiring nominated members include Rakesh Sinha, Ram Shakal, Sonal Mansingh, and Mahesh Jethmalani. They had joined the BJP after their nomination to Rajya Sabha. Another nominated member currently with the BJP is Gulam Ali, who will retire in September 2028.
The President nominates 12 members to Rajya Sabha on the government's recommendation. Among the current nominated members, seven have chosen to remain non-aligned but generally support the governing party in legislative matters.
The Rajya Sabha currently has 19 vacancies, including four each from Jammu & Kashmir and the nominated category, and 11 from eight different states (two each from Assam, Bihar, and Maharashtra, and one each from Haryana, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Tripura).
Of these 11 seats, 10 became vacant last month due to members being elected to the Lok Sabha, while one was vacated by Bharat Rashtra Samithi member K. Keshava Rao, who later joined Congress.
Elections for these 11 seats are expected in the coming months. The NDA is
