Even after victory in MP, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, BJP’s path is difficult in Rajya Sabha! There is no possibility of majority right now
Despite the spectacular victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the assembly elections of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, the number of members of the ruling party in the Rajya Sabha will not increase so much that it can get a majority in the Upper House till next year. These three states have a total of 26 seats in the Rajya Sabha. These include maximum 11 seats from Madhya Pradesh, 10 from Rajasthan and five from Chhattisgarh.
Presently in Madhya Pradesh, eight Rajya Sabha seats are held by BJP and three by Congress. In Rajasthan, six members are from Congress and four members are from BJP. At the same time, in Chhattisgarh, Congress has one MP on four seats and BJP has one MP on one seat. On a total of 26 Rajya Sabha seats from the three states, both BJP and Congress parties have equal 13-13 MPs.
BJP has been waiting to score a century in Rajya Sabha for a long time. However, for this BJP will have to wait for at least three years. According to the equation made after the election results of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, Congress will be left with three or four seats out of total 26 seats. Nine-ten seats held by Congress will go to BJP. However, out of all these seats held by Congress, one seat will be vacant in 2024, five seats in 2026 and the remaining seats in 2028. BJP will have to wait at least till 2026 to increase its strength and score a century by securing Rajya Sabha seats from these three states.
Next year 69 seats will become vacant in Rajya Sabha. Of these, 56 seats will become vacant in April itself, before the Lok Sabha elections. There are 239 members in the Upper House of Parliament. Currently BJP is the largest party in the Upper House with 94 members. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) currently has 108 MPs. After that, Congress with 30 members and Trinamool Congress with 13 members are at second and third place respectively.
The BJP is likely to retain 30 seats in the Upper House, which will become vacant in April next year. Congress will retain its seats. It will get additional two seats from Telangana. In Telangana, Congress has won the assembly elections by defeating BRS. The members whose tenure will be completed in April include former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from Rajasthan, Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav from Rajasthan, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan from Madhya Pradesh and Minister of State Purushottam Rupala from Gujarat.
The BJP will get more seats from Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, the states where it came to power by ousting the Congress in the assembly elections. The party would gain additional seats in subsequent years. Aam Aadmi Party and DMK have 10 members each in the Rajya Sabha, while Biju Janata Dal and YRS Congress Party have nine members each. BRS has seven members in the Upper House, Rashtriya Janata Dal has six and Janata Dal (AKI) and CPI (M) have five members each. While Uttar Pradesh has the maximum number of 31 seats in the Rajya Sabha, there are 11 seats from Madhya Pradesh, 10 seats from Rajasthan, seven seats from Telangana and five seats from Chhattisgarh.
Members are nominated for a six-year term
According to the Constitution, the actual membership of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Parliament of India, is limited to 245 members. Of these, 233 members are elected by the members of the legislative assemblies of the states and three union territories. 12 members are nominated by the President for their contribution to art, literature, knowledge and services. Members are nominated for a six-year term. One-third of these members retire every two years and new members are nominated in their place.
