Lok Sabha OK for NaMo. How about Rajya Sabha?

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance’s political management skills may be put to the test in the Rajya Sabha. With just 64 members in a House of 240, the NDA may find it difficult to get its legislative agenda through in Parliament. Though BJP enjoys a simple majority in the Lok Sabha now, the situation is not as such in the Upper House of the Parliament (Rajya Sabha).

The situation for the NDA is not going to change in the foreseeable future. Only 23 vacancies, including two nominated members, will open from now till the end of 2015. But the BJP has no chance of benefiting, as the openings are all from States in which it has marginal or no presence. A simple majority in the Upper House is crucial for any government to carry out its legislative agenda and so no ruling party can govern effectively without cooperation from both friendly parties and the principal Opposition.

Numbers in Rajya Sabha
With just 64 Members of 240 in the Rajya Sabha, it will be tough for BJP – led NDA to get bills passed in Parliament
Party	Number of MPs
INC	68
BJP	46
BSP	14
TMC	12
AIADMK	10
CPI-M	09
JD(U)	09
SP	09
BJD	06
NCP	06
TDP	06
DMK	04
SAD	03
SS	03
CPI	02
INLD	02
NC	02
Other Parties	10
Nominated	10
Independents	09
Total	240

The BJP – led NDA is 57 members short of the simple majority of 121

With only 102 members, UPA depended heavily on the BJP to pass key bills

BJP did not support the passage of Direct Taxes Code, Goods and Services Tax Bill

A Bill becomes and Act of Parliament after both the Houses of Parliament pass it and the President gives assent to it

60 Bills pending in the Rajya Sabha

Once the 15th Lok Sabha is dissolved, 68 Bills will lapse. At the moment 60 Bills are pending in the Rajya Sabha. These include the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, the Drugs and Cosmetics (Amendment) Bill, the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill, the Higher Education and Research Bill, and the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill.