Notwithstanding the loss in the assembly elections in Delhi where Aam Admi Party of Arvind Kejriwal has won, the Bharatiya Janata Party has nothing to worry as it has huge mandate in Lok Sabha with two-thirds majority.
Even if some friendly parties quit the National Democratic Alliance, there is no immediate threat to the BJP as it has absolute majority in Lok Sabha on its own. It has won more than 300 MP seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha.
Yet, the Delhi election result seems to have rattled the BJP leadership to some extent and so, it started attempts to consolidate the support from other parties in the NDA. Not only that, the BJP is also looking at other neutral parties seeking support.
The sudden call from New Delhi to YSR Congress party chief and Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy for a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi is said to be part of the BJP’s attempts to bring more allies into the NDA.
Why does BJP require more regional parties, especially the YSR Congress, into the NDA now?
Answer is simple: BJP might be having huge majority in Lok Sabha, but does not have enough strength in Rajya Sabha. As more regional parties win more states in the country, their strength in Rajya Sabha will increase and the BJP strength will go down.
There is every possibility that all its crucial bills might get stalled if the opposition strength increases in Rajya Sabha. Unless the NDA has enough numbers in the Upper House, it cannot get decisions implemented.
At present, YSRC has two members in Rajya Sabha – V Vijay Sai Reddy and Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy. By April this year, its strength will go up to six, as four more MPs will be elected on YSRC ticket. The TDP will lose its one seat – Thota Mahalakshmi will retire, but the party doesn’t have strength to win another seat.
By 2022, the YSRC’s strength will go up to 10 and the TDP will completely lose its presence in Rajya Sabha. If YSRC joins the NDA, then it will be a big plus point for the Narendra Modi government.
In Lok Sabha too, the YSRCP is the fourth largest party with 22 MPs and hence, the BJP will get additional strength from YSRC. That is why, Modi is pampering Jagan, say sources.