In the Bihar Assembly Election of 2025, the NDA has secured a massive majority with 202 seats out of 243, while the Mahagathbandhan (opposition) has 35 seats. A political question arises – if all 35 opposition members resign collectively, will the legislative assembly’s operations come to a standstill? Rules indicate that parliamentary proceedings won’t be hindered by such mass resignations, but it does have serious political implications on the democratic process.
Post mass resignations, the status of the Assembly
First and foremost, it is crucial to understand that the governance or functioning does not come to a halt due to the resignations of opposition members. When the Speaker of the Assembly accepts these resignations, the seats become vacant, leading to a temporary decrease in the total member count, but strengthens the government’s majority support. For governance to continue, the government must maintain a clear majority, which the NDA currently retains with its 202 seats.
The rule of ‘quorum’ and Assembly proceedings
Running the Assembly’s proceedings requires meeting the ‘quorum’ – the minimum number of members required for functioning. As per the Indian Constitution, one-tenth of the total members’ presence is mandatory to conduct Assembly business. With 243 seats in the Bihar Assembly, this number is significantly lower. In this scenario, the ruling party (NDA) can easily fulfill the requirement of this quorum with its 202 MLAs. This directly implies that Assembly sessions, budget passing, and other legislative discussions can continue without any constitutional hindrances.
By-elections and constitutional stability
Once a seat becomes vacant in the Assembly, the next constitutional requirement is to conduct by-elections. It is constitutionally mandated to hold a by-election within 6 months of a vacant seat (unless the remainder of the Assembly’s term is short). This process ensures that democratic representation is eventually restored, even if the opposition temporarily remains absent.
Will President’s Rule be imposed?
It is crucial to note that the mass resignation of opposition MLAs does not automatically lead to any constitutional crisis in the state. As long as the ruling party maintains support from over half the remaining MLAs, the government remains stable. In this situation, the imposition of President’s Rule or dissolution of the Assembly does not automatically arise.
Serious implications for democracy
The political and public repercussions of this entire event are profound. While the Assembly continues to function constitutionally, a strong opposition’s absence weakens the fundamental principle of checks and balances in democracy. Without the opposition, government policies are unchecked, no questions are raised on governmental actions, and there is no balanced oversight on the ruling party. This situation can prove detrimental to the democratic process.
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