BJP’s Push for a Super Majority Is Rewiring Opposition Politics

By MANISH ANAND

BJP’s reported quest for a parliamentary supermajority is driving new calculations among TMC, Congress, BJD, DMK and other opposition parties.

New Delhi, June 9, 2026 — The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is dropping signs of a party in a hurry to shore up strength in parliament. The prospects of a major chunk of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) aligning with the BJP sent former West Bengal Chief Minister to 10, Janpath for a meeting with Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. The Opposition camp now seems sensing that the BJP has turned a “predator” and surviving defections from own ranks is now the top priority for the constituents.

The BJP, according to party insiders, is now seeking to gain two-third majority in both the houses of parliament. After the BJP netted all the seven Rajya Sabha MPs of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) from Punjab, the party is aiming to more prospects, in piecemeals and sometimes in lock stock and barrel. Similar moves seem afoot in the Lok Sabha.

The BJP’s two-third majority is a milestone to push delimitation and ‘one nation, one election’ agenda. The BJP’s aggression after the party cut a sorry figure following the defeat of the Women Reservation (amendment) bill, brought along with a delimitation legislation, has gained strength in recent weeks.

With the Congress as the largest Opposition party in the Lok Sabha, the smaller parties are now looking at safety from the BJP’s drive for defections from Opposition ranks. West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh told PTI on Tuesday that “Mamata Banerjee is reuniting with Congress to save her existence.”

Ghosh’s remarks came in the backdrop of Mamata Banerjee’s hug with Sonia Gandhi and the subsequent meeting with her at the 10, Janpath residence of the Opposition leader. While the regional parties are facing direct threat from the BJP, the Congress has gained confidence by winning Kerala Assembly elections. The Congress also showed decision making agility by overseeing a smooth transfer of power in Karnataka.

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha has also become vulnerable to the BJP’s drive for defections. With Naveen Patnaik ageing, the BJD stares at prospects similar to that of the TMC.

The Congress with swift backing of the TVK to form a government in Tamil Nadu has apparently hurt the DMK. Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin has shared a personal rapport with leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. But hard politics play has sent the DMK drifting away from the Opposition camp. The BJP is calculating that the DMK will eventually drift to the NDA camp with the assessment that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay may have long innings to play in the state politics.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) faced the Congress in a direct contest in the next year’s Assembly elections in Punjab. But the party may want to partner the Congress for the Gujarat Assembly election next year.

With the Samajwadi Party firmly with the Congress, the Opposition unity in place of rupturing may be shaping up. The BJP is contributing to the consolidation of the Opposition under the leadership of the Congress.

Why BJP Is Unlikely to Risk Delimitation Without a Special Majority

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About The Author

Manish Anand

Manish Anand is a senior journalist with more than two decades of hardcore reporting on beats such as Prime Minister’s Office, Parliament, BJP, Congress, Planning Commission, NITI Aayog, and scores of Union Ministries.

His past has been with The New Indian Express, The Asian Age/Deccan Chronicle, and The Statesman.

For about 15 years, Manish was also a regular commentator and host for talks on AIR on foreign affairs.

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