BJP Eyes Rajya Sabha Gains Amid Dipped Tally

The BJP's current tally in Rajya Sabha has fallen below 90 for the first time in years but the party, along with its allies, anticipates regaining its strength through upcoming by-elections. Confident of winning seats in various states, the BJP aims to offset recent losses and secure more influence in the upper house.

The BJP's tally in the Rajya Sabha has dipped below 90 for the first time in several years. However, the party and its allies are expected to not only recoup their losses but also make some gains when by-elections to fill existing vacancies are held in the coming weeks.

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is confident of winning two seats each in Bihar, Maharashtra, and Assam, and one each in Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Tripura due to their numerical superiority over the opposition. Additionally, four new nominated members, expected to support the treasury benches, will also be named by the government.

While nominated members are traditionally supportive of the government's agenda, the Rajya Sabha's current strength stands at 226, with the BJP having 86 seats, followed by the Congress with 26 and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) with 13. There are currently 19 vacancies in the house.

The ruling Congress aims to win the lone seat in Telangana at the expense of the BRS but anticipates a cancellation of its gain in Rajasthan, where the BJP is expected to pick up a vacated seat. In Haryana, the BJP is also confident of filling a vacancy caused by Deepender Singh Hooda's election to the Lok Sabha.

The Congress hopes that a few MLAs, either independent or affiliated with regional parties and looking for political alternatives ahead of the coming assembly polls, may switch sides to support its cause. The Election Commission (EC) has yet to announce the date for elections to fill the 11 vacancies affected by recent resignations.

Out of the total 19 vacancies in the 245-member Rajya Sabha, four are from Jammu and Kashmir, where there is currently no assembly following its reorganization as a Union Territory in 2019.