Strengthening Parliamentary Power: The BJP-AIADMK Alliance in Tamil Nadu
The BJP’s renewed alliance with AIADMK strengthens its political platform in Tamil Nadu and enhances its influence in the Rajya Sabha by gaining three additional seats. This positions the BJP for easier passage of significant legislation, including the ‘one nation, one election’ bill, while potentially increasing their numbers in the Upper House to 140.
The recent alliance between the BJP and AIADMK, officially announced by Home Minister Amit Shah alongside former Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, provides the BJP with an established support base ahead of the Tamil Nadu elections. While it is uncertain how impactful this alliance will be in light of the DMK-Congress coalition’s previous victories, it notably enhances the BJP’s standing in the Rajya Sabha by securing three additional seats from AIADMK.
The BJP currently holds a dominant majority in the Lok Sabha and is on track to achieve a similar position in the Rajya Sabha. This strengthens the party’s ability to pass significant legislation, including the “one nation, one election” bill. Sources indicate that advancing this bill, a key initiative of PM Modi, is a priority for the upcoming Parliament session.
The Rajya Sabha, which has an effective strength of 236 members due to nine vacancies, requires a majority of 119 votes. With the inclusion of AIADMK’s three MPs – CV Shanmugam, M Thambidurai, and N Chandrasegharan – the BJP-led coalition will reach 122 MPs, potentially increasing to 123 if the AIADMK secures an additional seat. Furthermore, the BJP has support from seven other MPs, bringing their effective strength to 130.
Opportunities for increasing this number further exist, such as the vacant seat from Andhra Pradesh, which is expected to go to the NDA’s Telugu Desam Party. Additionally, four nominated MP seats and four vacant seats from Jammu and Kashmir could lead to further gains for the BJP, potentially raising their total count to 140.
The strategic alignment with non-aligned parties for issue-based votes bolsters the BJP’s position in the Rajya Sabha. For example, support for the Waqf (Amendment) Bill could come from regional parties like Odisha’s BJD and YSR Congress, which could further facilitate the passage of key legislation for the BJP-led alliance.
The partnership between the BJP and AIADMK is a significant development that not only boosts the BJP’s electoral prospects in Tamil Nadu but also enhances its influence in the Rajya Sabha. With a potential increase in seats, the BJP-led coalition may achieve a strong majority, thereby facilitating the passage of critical legislation. This alignment signifies a strategic move to solidify the BJP’s position within Parliament and underscores their focused legislative agenda moving forward.
Original Source: www.ndtv.com
