TNN | Mar 18, 2016, 05.25 AM IS
New Delhi: The vote in Rajya Sabha on the Aadhaar bill could have been a tie but for the absence of a dozen NDA MPs when Congress-backed amendments were taken up on Wednesday.
Among those absent were four Shiv Sena MPs, three BJP members, two from TDP, one SAD MP, RPI chief Ramdas Athavale and independent MP Parimal Nathwani. Though not part of the NDA, AIADMK voted against the amendments and one of its MPs was not present too
The 76-64 vote in favour of the Congress amendments marks the exact number of missing NDA MPs, that included defence minister Manohar Parrikar who was busy with a debate on the Pathankot attack in Lok Sabha.
BJP sources said the decision of several regional parties, including Trinamool, SP, BSP, BJD and NCP to abstain from voting made the contest very close and a little more effort on part of the NDA could have surprised the opposition. Some BJP members pointed out that the Congress-sponsored amendments to the President's address last week were carried by a 94-61 margin, indicating the depletion in opposition ranks.
Top Comment
when the equation changes Modi will not have any excuse for bringing reforms
Md Dubey
The AIADMK's decision to vote with the government on both occasions has been a shot in the arm. The difference makes it clear that more non-NDA parties did not go along with the amendments moved by Congress's Jairam Ramesh, making the RS vote a BJP versus Congress showdown. The reduced margin of comfort indicates that forcing a vote against the NDA in the upper House could become a risky business as the composition of RS changes, beginning with the current round of elections.
Congress will continue to have more MPs than BJP, but the gap is shrinking with the government expected to further buttress its position through seven nominated seats that will fall vacant soon. As its allies and other Congress opponents like TRS elect more MPs, the middle benches will play a more significant role as balancers between BJP and its main rival.