New Delhi: The Biju Janata Dal on Tuesday extended its support to the bill replacing the Delhi services ordinance in a boost to the treasury benches, especially in Rajya Sabha, and also backed the government against the no-confidence motion brought by opposition parties.
The BJD is the second party after the YSR Congress among those not formally aligned with either the ruling BJP or the opposition to announce support to the Centre on the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, dealing a blow to the opposition's efforts to cobble together a majority in the Rajya Sabha where the treasury benches lack a majority on their own.
The Leader of the BJD in Rajya Sabha, Sasmit Patra, told PTI his party will support the bill. "We will also vote against the no-confidence motion," he added. The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has issued a three-line whip to this effect to its MPs in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
The BJD has nine MPs in Rajya Sabha. The YSR Congress also has nine MPs in the Upper House and the total support of their 18 MPs make the passage of the bill all but certain in the House. Both parties have often supported the government in Parliament despite not being formally part of the ruling alliance.
The ruling NDA has over 100 MPs in the Rajya Sabha and the support of nominated members and Independents, who have been voting for the government, as well as these two non-aligned parties will give it a majority in the 238-member Upper House.
Around 109 MPs comprising those from the 26-member opposition bloc INDIA besides the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and some Independents such as Kapil Sibal are expected to vote against the bill, a senior leader said. The full strength of the House is 243 but there are some vacancies.
Of the 26 parties from the opposition grouping, at least 18 have a presence in the Rajya Sabha and have 101 MPs collectively. Besides this bloc, the BRS (seven MPs) is also likely to vote against the bill. With the BJP having 305 members on its own in the Lok Sabha, the government faces no threat from the opposition on either the bill or the no-confidence motion. The BJD has 12 members in the Lower House. (PTI)
