The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has increased its strength in the Rajya Sabha to 142 MPs following defections, putting it 17 seats above the majority requirement of 123.
The Rajya Sabha’s current effective strength is 244. Any Bill passed by the Lok Sabha becomes law only after it is cleared by the Upper House as well, making a working majority in the Rajya Sabha politically significant.
As per the Constitution, the Rajya Sabha can have up to 250 members—238 elected from states and Union Territories and 12 nominated by the President. Members serve six-year terms.
The latest rise in numbers follows the joining of seven MPs from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) into the BJP, taking the BJP’s Rajya Sabha strength to 113 and lifting the NDA’s combined tally to 142.
While leaders from various parties have joined the BJP over the years, the entry of seven Rajya Sabha MPs from AAP on a single day has been seen as a notable development.
