BJP-led NDA Strength in Rajya Sabha Set to Increase

New Delhi: The BJP-led NDA's strength in the Rajya Sabha is set to increase by at least one after the October 16 by-elections for two seats which fell vacant due to the demise of former Union Ministers Arun Jaitley and CBD

While Jaitley's seat from Uttar Pradesh is going to be retained by the BJP, given its majority in the state Assembly, the party and its ally Janata Dal (United) are eyeing Jethamalani's seat from Bihar, from where the late member represented RJD in the Upper House of Parliament.

In the 245-member Rajya Sabha, the BJP has 80 members and along with its allies, its strength is 114, 9 short of the majority mark.

The ruling alliance has so far been helped by parties like TRS and YSRCP, which are not part of the coalition, in passing legislation in the Upper House. However, the NDA needs a majority on its own in the House to make things easier for it.

The BJP has not yet decided on candidates for the by-elections. In Uttar Pradesh, the Opposition is not keen to put up any candidate as the numbers are clearly in favor of the ruling party, said a leader from the Opposition camp.

The state recently sent three members to the Rajya Sabha – Neeraj Shekhar, Surendra Nagar, and Sanjay Seth – who were Samajwadi Party MPs before they quit to join the BJP. (IANS)

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