Numbers stack up favourably for NDA in Rajya Sabha
New Delhi: A steady exodus of opposition MPs has made the numbers in Rajya Sabha more favourable than ever for the Modi government as the ruling NDA is now barely short of a majority and is comfortably placed with the support of friendly regional parties.
One more Congress MP quit his party on Wednesday and BJP sources said they expect more desertion from opposition ranks as political parties gear up for Parliament's Winter Session.
After a united opposition managed to thwart its legislative agenda in the House often during much of the first term, the ruling BJP negated the opposition's numerical superiority by wooing its members and coopting fence-sitters in Parliament's first session when it came back to power with a stronger mandate
With the Congress MP from Karnataka, K C Ramamurthy, quitting the party on Wednesday, its strength in Rajya Sabha has come down to 45 and the BJP, due to its bigger numbers in the state assembly, is likely to grab the seat when the bypoll is held there, taking its tally to 83 in the 245-member.
Ramamurthy also tendered his resignation from the House and is likely to join the BJP. The Upper House now has five vacancies and the combined strength of the ruling NDA is around 106.
The AIADMK, which is not officially an NDA constituent but has mostly backed the government, has 11 members along with seven of the BJD, six of the TRS and two of the YSR Congress, three other regional parties with a record of supporting the Modi government on key issues.
BJP managers are of the view that a few more opposition MPs will leave their parties in the coming weeks in states where it has the numbers to grab the seats during bypolls.
Fresh off its big win in the recent Lok Sabha polls, the BJP worked on a number of MPs from parties like the Congress, TDP and Samajwadi Party to win them over to its side to ensure that the Modi government in its second term does not face the same hurdles in the Upper House that it did in its first stint.
A united opposition, which enjoyed numerical advantage over the NDA, had often frustrated its legislative agenda during the first term by blocking its bills.
However, boosted by its bigger mandate in the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP successfully broke the opposition's ranks.
Many regional parties, which were not officially aligned with either of the two main blocs in the House, also rallied around the saffron ranks, resulting in the passage of the contentious triple talaq bill and the resolution to nullify provisions of Article 370.
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Oppn notices on motion to remove CEC rejected by RS Chairman, LS Speaker
New Delhi (PTI): Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday rejected separate notices from the opposition to move a motion for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar from his post.
The opposition had in March submitted the notices to the Lok Sabha Speaker and the Rajya Sabha Chairman against the CEC, listing seven charges, including alleged "partisan and discriminatory conduct in office," "deliberate obstruction of investigation of electoral fraud" and "mass disenfranchisement".
In separate orders, the Speaker and the Rajya Sabha Chairman refused to admit the notices moved under Article 324(5) of the Constitution, read with other relevant constitutional and statutory provisions, praying for the removal of Gyanesh Kumar as the Chief Election Commissioner.
"After due consideration of the notice of Motion and a careful and objective assessment of all relevant aspects and issues involved, the Chairman, Rajya Sabha, in exercise of the powers vested to him under Section 3 of the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, has refused to admit the said notice of Motion," a notification from the Rajya Sabha Secretary General said.
It said the notice of Motion dated March 12, 2026, signed by 63 members of the Rajya Sabha under Article 324(5) of the Constitution, read with Article 124(4) thereof, Section 11(2) of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023 and the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, was submitted to the Rajya Sabha Chairman.
A separate notification from the Lok Sabha Secretary General said a notice of Motion dated March 12, 2026, signed by 130 Members of Lok Sabha under Article 324(5) of the Constitution, was submitted to the Speaker, seeking the removal of Gyanesh Kumar, Chief Election Commissioner.
"After due consideration of the notice of Motion and a careful and objective assessment of all relevant aspects and issues involved therein, the Hon'ble Speaker, Lok Sabha, in exercise of the powers vested to him under Section 3 of the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, has refused to admit the said notice of Motion," it said.
Article 324(5) of the Constitution says the CEC shall not be removed from office except in like manner and on like grounds as a judge of the Supreme Court, and the conditions of service of the CEC shall not be varied to his disadvantage after his appointment.
Reacting to the rejection of the notice, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "We know what happened to the last Chairman of the Rajya Sabha who accepted a petition moved by Opposition MPs".
Ramesh's statement on X was an apparent reference to Jagdeep Dhankhar, who suddenly resigned as Vice President in July 2025, citing health reasons.
TMC leader Derek O'Brien said no reason has been given while rejecting the opposition's notices and accused the BJP of mocking Parliament.
"Ah! Told you so. Notice to remove CEC Vanish Kumar by Rajya Sabha MPs rejected. Reason? NO REASON GIVEN. BJP keep mocking our great Parliament. SHAME," O'Brien said in a post on X.
The opposition parties have accused the CEC of aiding the ruling BJP on several occasions, especially with the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The process for removing the CEC is similar to that for the removal of a Supreme Court or a high court judge, meaning an impeachment can be effected only on the ground of "proven misbehaviour or incapacity".
The signatories to the notices included the Congress, Trinamool Congress, DMK, RJD and Left parties, which are all part of the opposition INDIA bloc, besides the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is no longer formally in the alliance. Some Independent MPs had also signed the notices.
This was the first time a notice was moved seeking the removal of the CEC.
The motion for removal may be introduced in either House of Parliament and must be passed by a special majority -- a majority of the total membership of the House and a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting.
