India
Rajya Sabha: Numbers game: Why Congress’s support on Delhi ordinance may not be enough for AAP | India News
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NEW DELHI: The Congress‘s decision to support the AAP government in opposing the Delhi ordinance bill in Parliament has helped tied up some loose threads in the opposition camp which is seeking to bolster its numbers to counter the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who has visited multiple states seeking support of opposition parties over the issue, thanked the Congress for finally coming on board on the eve of a crucial opposition meeting in Bengaluru.
Though the move bodes well for opposition unity efforts, it may not help AAP’s cause all that much in Rajya Sabha even with UPA’s strength.
Numbers game
In Rajya Sabha, there are a total of 245 seats out of which 8 are currently vacant. This means the current strength is at 237.
Thus, the majority mark to pass the bill in the upper house will be 119.
Currently, BJP has 94 members in the upper house. It lost one seat when Rajya Sabha member from Uttar Pradesh Hardwar Dubey passed away.
Combined with other allies, the total strength of BJP-led NDA in Rajya Sabha is 112, which includes 5 nominated members. With the Rajya Sabha polls slated soon, the number could go up to 113 with BJP expected to win one more seat from West Bengal.
This means the BJP will need the support of just 6 more members to get the bill cleared in the house.
When it comes to neutral parties, both BJD and YSR Congress have 9 members each. In case they both decide to either support BJP or abstain on voting, the party can easily get the requisite numbers to clear the legislation.
Even if one of the party abstains, the majority mark would come down to 115. This means that BJP will require the support of just two more parties to see the bill through.
With BJP already courting parties like JD(S) and TDP – which have one member each in Rajya Sabha – the party can ensure that it gets the requisite numbers even in this scenario.
Moreover, the government also has the option to nominate two more members in Rajya Sabha.
On the other hand, the combined strength of all the parties who have extended support to AAP, including the Congress, is 105.
This means that all eyes will be on parties like YSR and BJD when the bill comes to the vote in the upper house.
Traditionally, both the parties have remained neutral on such issues, which could be beneficial for BJP.
AAP vs Centre over Delhi ordinance
The Centre had on May 19 promulgated the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023 to create an authority for transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi.
The AAP government has termed it a “deception” with the Supreme Court verdict on control of services.
The ordinance, which came a week after the Supreme Court handed over the control of services in Delhi excluding police, public order and land to the elected government, seeks to set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for transfer of and disciplinary proceedings against Group-A officers from the Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli (Civil) Services (DANICS) cadre.
The chief minister is one of the three members of the Authority, while two others are bureaucrats. The decisions by the Authority are to be taken by a majority and, in the event of a dispute, the matter will be referred to the LG whose decision will be final.
Transfer and posting of all officers of the Delhi government were under the executive control of the LG before the May 11 top court verdict.
(With inputs from agencies)
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who has visited multiple states seeking support of opposition parties over the issue, thanked the Congress for finally coming on board on the eve of a crucial opposition meeting in Bengaluru.
Though the move bodes well for opposition unity efforts, it may not help AAP’s cause all that much in Rajya Sabha even with UPA’s strength.
Numbers game
In Rajya Sabha, there are a total of 245 seats out of which 8 are currently vacant. This means the current strength is at 237.
Thus, the majority mark to pass the bill in the upper house will be 119.
Currently, BJP has 94 members in the upper house. It lost one seat when Rajya Sabha member from Uttar Pradesh Hardwar Dubey passed away.
Combined with other allies, the total strength of BJP-led NDA in Rajya Sabha is 112, which includes 5 nominated members. With the Rajya Sabha polls slated soon, the number could go up to 113 with BJP expected to win one more seat from West Bengal.
This means the BJP will need the support of just 6 more members to get the bill cleared in the house.
When it comes to neutral parties, both BJD and YSR Congress have 9 members each. In case they both decide to either support BJP or abstain on voting, the party can easily get the requisite numbers to clear the legislation.
Even if one of the party abstains, the majority mark would come down to 115. This means that BJP will require the support of just two more parties to see the bill through.
With BJP already courting parties like JD(S) and TDP – which have one member each in Rajya Sabha – the party can ensure that it gets the requisite numbers even in this scenario.
Moreover, the government also has the option to nominate two more members in Rajya Sabha.
On the other hand, the combined strength of all the parties who have extended support to AAP, including the Congress, is 105.
This means that all eyes will be on parties like YSR and BJD when the bill comes to the vote in the upper house.
Traditionally, both the parties have remained neutral on such issues, which could be beneficial for BJP.
AAP vs Centre over Delhi ordinance
The Centre had on May 19 promulgated the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023 to create an authority for transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi.
The AAP government has termed it a “deception” with the Supreme Court verdict on control of services.
The ordinance, which came a week after the Supreme Court handed over the control of services in Delhi excluding police, public order and land to the elected government, seeks to set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for transfer of and disciplinary proceedings against Group-A officers from the Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli (Civil) Services (DANICS) cadre.
The chief minister is one of the three members of the Authority, while two others are bureaucrats. The decisions by the Authority are to be taken by a majority and, in the event of a dispute, the matter will be referred to the LG whose decision will be final.
Transfer and posting of all officers of the Delhi government were under the executive control of the LG before the May 11 top court verdict.
(With inputs from agencies)
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