Can BJP Pass Delhi Ordinance In RS After Cong's Support To AAP? Number Game Explained

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday thanked Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge for extending his party' support to the AAP on Delhi Ordinance, saying the issue should be fought tooth and nail.

"Thank you Kharge ji for standing with the people of Delhi. This ordinance is anti-India and anti-national and ought to be fought tooth and nail," The Aam Aadmi Party national convenor said in a tweet.

The BJP-led central government had in May brought an ordinance on the transfer and posting of bureaucrats in Delhi, virtually negating an earlier Supreme Court verdict that had given the elected government in Delhi the control over services matters.

Will Cong's Support Prevent Centre From Passing The Ordinance In Parliament?

Despite the Congress extending support to the AAP on this issue, the BJP is unlikely to face any trouble in passing this ordinance in the Rajya Sabha. It is because Naveen Patnaik's Biju Janata Dal (BJD) or the YSR Congress Party of Jagan Reddy have not extended support to the AAP's cause.

With eleven leaders including five BJP leaders set to be elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha, the saffron party is set to increase its seat tally to 93 in the upper house of the Parliament. Whereas Congress is set to lose one seat to take its tally to 30.

After July 24, there will be a total of seven vacant seats in the Rajya Sabha, which consists of 245 members. Out of these, four seats will be vacant in Jammu and Kashmir, two seats will be nominated, and one seat will be vacant in Uttar Pradesh.

As the monsoon session commences next week, the total number of seats in the Rajya Sabha will decrease to 238. Consequently, the majority mark required to pass legislation will be 120.

The BJP and its allies' seat count in the Rajya Sabha is expected to reach 105 and it has the backing of five nominated and two independent MPs. It means the saffron party will be short of eight seats to reach the new majority mark of 120. In addition to it, the JDS, BSP and TDP have one MP each in the house and the NDA is hoping to get the support of these parties.

On the other hand, the Opposition has the support of 105 members. In order to stop the BJP from passing the bill, it requires the support of the BJD and the YSRCP which have nine members each.

Both the parties have not clearly stated whether they support or oppose the ordinance.

It may be recalled that both political parties had staged a walkout while a contentious bill was being voted upon in the Rajya Sabha, last year. This move aided the government by reducing the required majority threshold.

If a similar scenario unfolds this time, the BJP and its allies will surpass the lowered majority mark, which will now stand at 111.

The government will be only in trouble if both parties join hands with the Opposition parties.