With the resignation of BS Yeddyurappa and B Sriramulu as Lok Sabha MPs on Saturday, 19 May, the BJP’s tally in the Lower House now stands exactly at the majority mark of 272 (not including the Speaker).
This represents a decrease of as many as 10 seats in the last four years, as the BJP had secured 282 seats when the Lok Sabha elections were held in 2014. The saffron’s party sweeping win in 2014 was the first time a single political party secured an absolute majority in 30 years.
To make matters worse, two of the MPs currently have a strained relationship with the party, with one – Kirti Azad – being suspended, and the other – Shatrughan Sinha – repeatedly rebelling against the party, as pointed out by The Economic Times.