New Delhi: The BJP’s strength in the Rajya Sabha fell by four on Saturday after as many nominated members – Rakesh Sinha, Ram Shakal, Sonal Mansingh, and Mahesh Jethmalani – completed their term.concerned, there can be a maximum of 12. Although non-aligned when brought in, since they are chosen by the government they tend to support the ruling party.
There are a total of 20 seats vacant at this time, including 11 held by elected members for which polls are expected this year. Of these, there are two seats each in Maharashtra, Assam, and Bihar, and one each in Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, and Tripura.
The BJP-led alliance has the numbers to win seven – from Assam, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Tripura. And if it can keep its flock together in Maharashtra, it will win two more from there.
This could give the BJP as many as nine extra seats. If it wins those, and with the nominated members’ votes, as well as the YSRCP’s, it will have more than enough to cross the majority mark.
There are also four seats vacant from Jammu and Kashmir, which is expected to hold an Assembly election by September 30, in line with a Supreme Court order.
The Telangana seat is likely to be won by the Congress, which swept to power last year.
This is crucial because it will give the party enough votes to claim the Leader of the Opposition post in the Rajya Sabha. The Congress will then hold the LoP seat in both Houses.
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