After AAP MPs merge with BJP, NDA nears majority in Rajya Sabha

New Delhi: The NDA gained a significant advantage in the Rajya Sabha on Friday after seven Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MPs joined the BJP, but the ruling coalition remains far from a two-thirds majority. With the AAP MPs' switch, the NDA's total strength has now reached 145. The Rajya Sabha has 244 members, and a two-thirds majority requires 163 MPs. This means the NDA is still 18 MPs short.

Why does NDA need two-thirds majority in Rajya Sabha?

Once the NDA secures a two-thirds majority in the upper house, it will not be difficult to pass important legislation requiring constitutional amendments. Despite having a simple majority in the Lok Sabha, the NDA lacks a two-thirds majority. A two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha requires the support of 363 MPs. This is the reason why a crucial bill related to women's reservation could not be passed in Parliament recently. 

Meanwhile, as soon as Raghav Chadha and six other Aam Aadmi Party members joined the BJP, the saffron party has applied for merger. After Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan approved the merger of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) with the BJP, the ruling party will have a total of 113 MPs. Currently, the BJP has 106 in Parliament.

What about Rajya Sabha?

BJP nears majority. A simple majority in the Rajya Sabha requires 123 members. With the addition of seven MPs, the BJP's strength will increase to 113. Adding the support of seven nominated members and two independent MPs brings the total to 122, exactly half the halfway mark. The BJP will now be just one step away from achieving a simple majority on its own.

Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha, along with two other MPs, announced his departure from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in a press conference on Friday (April 24, 2026) . Along with him, Rajya Sabha MPs Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal have also left the AAP. With this, all three leaders have announced their joining the BJP. This is the biggest split in the Aam Aadmi Party so far.