BJP gains edge over Oppn in Upper House

But lack of majority will make it seek support from regional parties — every so often — who remain key players

New Delhi: The current round of Rajya Sabha biennial elections to 57 seats have given the ruling NDA an edge over opposition UPA, but it still lacks the majority it needs to push crucial legislations and may have to depend on regional parties who remain key players.

BJP supported RS candidate Subhash Chandra and INLD-Congress nominee RK Anand during polling in Chandigarh on Saturday. Pic/PTI

Regional players have 89 members. Their combined strength remains unaltered after the elections. The Samajwadi Party now has 19 members, with a gain of four seats, while JD-U and RJD have a combined strength of 12. The Trinamool Congress  (TMC) and AIADMK too have 12 members each, followed by BSP (6), CPI-M (8), BJD (7) and DMK (5).
After the elections, in the House of 245, the NDA has raised its tally by 5 and now has 74 members.

The UPA, on the other hand has 71 members, with its tally down by three. On June 3, 30 candidates were elected to the Upper House unopposed. The NDA then had managed to add 11 of its members (BJP 7, TDP 2, Shiv and Shiromani Akali Dal one each) to their Rajya Sabha tally. The House also has 12 nominated members.

Congress to move EC
Unhappy with the outcome in the RS, the Congress will be approaching EC today to protest against the 'misuse of government machinery' in the Upper House for two seats in Haryana Saturday which led to independent candidate
RK Anand, backed by the party, losing the poll. Party general secretary BK Hariprasad confirmed that they would be approaching the EC today.

89 Number of regional players in RS

74 NDA's latest tally, which has risen by 5

71 UPA's tally, which has dropped by 3

12 Number of nominated members

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