The Rajya Sabha polls for three seats in Gujarat will begin at 9 am on Tuesday and continue till 4 pm. The counting of votes will start at 5 pm and the results are expected to be out by 6 pm.Gujarat looks set for an on the edge of seat contest as Ahmed Patel the influential political secretary to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi will look to secure his fifth consecutive Rajya Sabha victory. However Patel will not get a walkover this time around as he will be facing Balwantsinh Rajput a former Congress leader who switched to the BJP.Patel s trouble grew after the Congress which has been out of power in the state for over a two decades now was rattled by the surprise exit of party stalwart Shankarsinha Vaghela recently.File image of Congress leader Ahmed Patel. PTIThe party was jolted further when its six MLAs including Rajput a relative of Vaghela resigned from the Assembly. Three of them later joined BJP setting off alarm bells in the party in Gujarat where Assembly elections are due later this year. The beleaguered Congress flew its 44 MLAs to Bengaluru to ward off any threat of poaching by the BJP.However six of the 51 MLAs still in the Congress apart from Vaghela have not put their cards on the table. They were not among the MLAs packed off to Bengaluru.Vaghela who resigned from the party and as the leader of the opposition has not quit the House yet giving the Congress a major cause for worry.BJP chief Amit Shah and Union minister Smriti Irani are the other two candidates who are expected to win easily.According to Election Commission officials a candidate would require one-fourth of the total number of votes plus one to get elected. This would mean a contestant has to muster 45 votes.BJP has 121 MLAs in the 182-seat Assembly.BJP will be left with 31 surplus votes for Rajput who will require the backing of rebel MLAs of the Congress and smaller parties to win. Rajput also has the support of two NCP MLAs which will make his task a bit easier. With inputs from agencies
Written by Parimal Dabhi | Gandhinagar | Updated: August 8 2017 8:56 am Gujarat Rajya Sabha polls: Each candidate needs 45 first-preference votes to enter Rajya Sabha and the BJP s 120 MLAs leave it with 30 votes to spare. Related News Gujarat Rajya Sabha elections live updates: Shankarsinh Vaghela says he did not vote for Ahmed PatelAmit Shah Ahmed Patel Smriti Irani in fray: Gujarat braces for vote today as BJP Congress draw battlelinesRakhis for Gujarat Congress MLAs: Two tied by sisters others sent from homeIt is the first time since 1996 that Gujarat s Rajya Sabha seats are facing a contest. Four candidates are contesting three seats two of these held by the BJP which is keen to topple the Congress from the third. Not only is the race too close to call this time Tuesday s elections are significant also because of the stakes for high-profile candidates: Ahmed Patel of the Congress; BJP national president Amit Shah and Union minister Smriti Irani. Two of the seats face straightforward contests with the BJP comfortably placed with votes to spare. It is in the third seat that every vote counts. As of now there are at least 10 votes not committed to either side including two of the NCP that has not revealed its choice yet. | Gujarat Rajya Sabha elections LIVE updates The numbers Each candidate needs 45 first-preference votes to enter Rajya Sabha and the BJP s 120 MLAs leave it with 30 votes to spare. The Congress has 51 but is wary of cross-voting. Its uncertainty began on July 21 when Leader of the Opposition Shankersinh Vaghela announced he was quitting the Congress. Six other Congress MLAs quit the assembly bringing the Congress strength down from 57 to 51 including Vaghela. Three of the six Balwantsinh Rajput Tejashree Patel and P I Patel joined the BJP. The BJP then sprang a surprise by fielding Rajput as its third candidate. It can get him elected either by stacking up extra first-preference votes or by depending on second-preference votes that come into play if first-preference votes fail to decide the winner. Though Vaghela has publicly said his vote was reserved for Ahmed Patel he added a rider later when he sought the withdrawal of remarks about him by Congress general secretary Ashok Gehlot in charge of Gujarat. Vaghela is related to Rajput whose son is married to Vaghela s granddaughter. Amid worries of the BJP luring its MLAs the Congress had herded 44 of its MLAs out of Gujarat to a resort near Bengaluru. Their stay for nine days was marked by drama: Karnataka minister D K Shivakumar hosting the MLAs was the target of searches by the income tax department last week in what the Congress called an act of political vendetta for sheltering the Gujarat MLAs. Though the Gujarat Congress MLAs put up an united front during their stay in Bengaluru many in the Congress camp are worried that a few will not vote for the Congress. And even if all 44 do vote for Ahmed Patel the party will still need to worry about the 45th vote. The six MLAs other than these 44 and Vaghela refused to join their colleagues in Bengaluru. The 44 MLAs returned from Bengaluru Monday morning and were whisked away to another resort in Anand. The Congress has issued a whip to its MLAs with a warning that cross-voting will result in disqualification for electoral politics for six years. From the other camp has come an unusual public statement: Gujarat s Minister of State for Law Pradeepsinh Jadeja declared that anybody can engage in cross-voting in the elections without being disqualified. NOTA The election which comes ahead of the assembly elections in Gujarat will see a first: the NOTA option will be open to the voters. The Congress had written to the Election Commission protesting the use of NOTA and had also moved the Supreme Court which refused to stay the option. The BJP too had written to the EC citing a 2013 verdict of the Supreme Court to say that NOTA could be applied to Lok Sabha elections but not Rajya Sabha elections. We had written to the Election Commission because the Congress was making false allegations against the BJP. We too were opposed to the NOTA option in the RS elections. It proves the EC acts independently said Gujarat BJP spokesperson Bharat Pandya. Vaghela too has been critical of NOTA. How can one consider a candidate undeserving? Why should one go to vote in that case? he said. The crucial others While the arithmetic has changed every second the NCP which was the Congress s ally in the 2012 assembly elections has kept its cards close to its chest this time. The party s in-charge in Gujarat Praful Patel declared Sunday that they are yet to decide whom to vote for. Under these circumstances the votes of Janata Dal (United) MLA Chhotu Vasava and Gujarat Parivartan Party MLA Nalin Kotadiya who is an open supporter of Patidar quota stir become very important. Both Vasava and Kotadiya have declared that they will vote for Ahmed Patel. While the Congress has been claiming that Ahmed Patel will win comfortably the Gujarat BJP has sounded equally confident of a comfortable win for all its three candidates. On Monday Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was quoted by ANI as saying People are dying in flood and the (Congress) MLAs are enjoying in the resort. Their MLAs not under their control. They don t trust them BJP will win three seats and Ahmed Patel will definitely lose. Voting will be held between 9 am and 4 pm at Saputara Hall of Swarnim Sankul II inside the New Secretariat complex. The results will be declared in the evening. For all the latest India News download Indian Express App More Related News For Bihar s sake Partners in deceit Tags: amit shah BJP Gujarat Rajya Sabha polls MmklburgAug 8 2017 at 7:44 amMOTHER SON PAPPU AND HIS REAL FATHER THE #1 TRAITOR MOHAMAD HAVE LOST THE PLOT AND ARE COMPLETELY EXPOSED THEIR INTENT OF SLOWLY CLANDESTINELY DIVIDE DISINTEGRATE INDIA UNDER COVER OF OF FAKE CONGRESS MAHATMA GANDHI HALLOW SLOGANS LIKE GARIBI HATAO JAI KISAN ETC. IS UNDERSTOOD BY EVERY INDIAN THANKS MODIJI SHAH.Reply
NEW DELHI: In what could be a major boost to the treasury benches in the House of Elders BJP president Amit Shah is set to enter the Rajya Sabha after Tuesday s polling for three seats from Gujarat and six from West Bengal. This will be the first stint as a parliamentarian for the five-time MLA from Gujarat who was seen as the key strategist for BJP s string of successes since the 2014 Lok Sabha polls after which the party formed India s first majority government in nearly 30 years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had dubbed Shah the man of the match soon after the win. Shah has clarified that even after becoming an MP he will continue to be at the helm of the party and that there was no question of him joining the Union Cabinet which is likely to be expanded shortly to fill up the vacant slots. Party sources said Shah s presence in Parliament would be a morale booster for BJP members. Only recently BJP became the single largest party in the Rajya Sabha where the opposition has so far been able to dictate terms as the ruling party lacked the numbers. The opposition got certain amendments in the National Commission for Backward Classes Bill passed while the bill to amend the Motor Vehicle Act was referred to the select committee. Absenteeism has been a major issue for BJP and opposition s success in making changes in the backward classes bill was largely attributed to empty treasury benches. Party sources said Shah s presence in the House would have an impact on other members. Shah makes his parliamentary debut at a time when M Venkaiah Naidu is set to take over as chairman of the upper House as the vice president-elect. The other two BJP candidates from Gujarat for the RS polls are Union minister Smriti Irani and Balwantsinh Rajput. Vying to retain his seat senior Congress member Ahmed Patel is keeping his fingers crossed thanks to the presence of BJP s third candidate at a time when half a dozen Congress MLAs have left the party in the state where polls are due later this year. Patel needs 45 votes to win. Congress has 44 MLAs who have returned to the state after a stay at a resort near Bengaluru for over a week and the party has been banking on the support of two NCP MLAs and one each of JD(U) and the now-disbanded Gujarat Parivartan Party. JD(U) s Chotubhai Vasava has said he will support those who will give something to his constituency. Moreover JD(U) is now in alliance with BJP in Bihar.
By: PTI | Ahmedabad | Published:August 6 2017 5:49 pm The BJP has maintained that Shah is in the city to celebrate Raksha Bandhan and has no official engagements. (File/Photo) Related News Gujarat Rajya Sabha elections live updates: Shankarsinh Vaghela says he did not vote for Ahmed PatelAmit Shah Ahmed Patel Smriti Irani in fray: Gujarat braces for vote today as BJP Congress draw battlelinesThree seats four contestants: Why every vote counts in Gujarat Rajya Sabha polls todayAhead of the Rajya Sabha polls BJP chief Amit Shah on Sunday held a meeting with the party leaders in Gujarat including Chief Minister Vijay Rupani at his residence at Ahmedabad. State BJP president Jitubhai Vaghani party s state in-charge Bhupendra Yadav and Minister of State for Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja and other leaders met Shah in the morning for the Rajya Sabha elections of August 8 party sources said. According to the state party unit Shah who arrived here late last night would stay here till the completion of the Rajya Sabha polls in which he is one of the four contestants from the state. The BJP has maintained that Shah is in the city to celebrate Raksha Bandhan and has no official engagements. However party sources said the party chief discussed various issues regarding the polls with the leaders in Sunday s meeting. They added that it is expected that similar rounds of meetings would continue on Monday. For the three Rajya seats falling vacant in Gujarat the BJP has fielded Shah Union minister and sitting Rajya Sabha MP Smriti Irani and former Congress MLA Balwantsinh Rajput who had joined the saffron party a week ago. Of the total 11 Rajya Sabha members from Gujarat the term of three Smriti Irani and Dilipbhai Pandya (both BJP) and Congress Ahmed Patel is ending on August 18. Patel has been re-nominated as the party s candidate for the August 8 Rajya Sabha election. The polls have became crucial for both the parties as new equations are emerging every day after the dramatic exit of Gujarat Congress strongman Shankersinh Vaghela from the party followed by the resignation of six of the party s MLAs. With this the Congress tally has reduced to 51 in the 182-seat Gujarat Assembly. While the Congress claimed to have the support of 44 Congress MLAs who were shifted to Bengaluru a week ago seven others who are still here have not opened their cards yet. For all the latest India News download Indian Express App More Related News BJP s Poonam Mahajan meets Rajinikanth; nothing political says party Open House Tags: amit shah Rajya Sabha No Comments.
The Rajya Sabha goes to polls on Tuesday to fill up vacancies that have arisen as a result of certain members retiring passing away or resigning. This is a good opportunity to take a look at the Upper House of the Parliament that has grown increasingly significant during the past few years.India s Parliament consists of three entities. The Lok Sabha or the House of the People which is a popularly elected House for which elections are held every five years. The Government of India is required to maintain the confidence of this House in order for it to hold office. The Second is the Rajya Sabha or the Council of States. Members of this House are not directly elected but are nominated by the assemblies of the states. This House never dissolves but one-third of its members retire every two years triggering an election. The third is of course the Office of the President of India who is not only a part of the Parliament but also the constitutional head of the Union Executive.Representational image. PTIThe General Election to Lok Sabha which takes place every five years generate much favour across the country as elections are held pan-India wide. However if we already have a popular House there is a need to understand the role of the second chamber of the Parliament the Rajya Sabha and how it works in our constitutional scheme.The idea of a bicameral Parliament is not a new one in India. The Government of India Act 1919 created a bicameral central legislature with the introduction of the House of Assembly and the Council of State. The limit of a Council of State was fixed for five years but after the Government of India Act 1935 the House was made one that never dissolves with one-third of its members retiring every three years. These houses were later succeeded by the Constituent Assembly and further became the Parliament as we now know today.Currently members of the Rajya Sabha are elected to sit for six years. They are elected by state legislatures by means of a single transferable vote. In this system the legislators rank their candidates by an order of preference (similar to how the Parliament recently elected the vice-president) and the winning candidates occupy that state s seats in the Rajya Sabha. Each state has a certain allocation of seats and this is specified in the Constitution s Fourth Schedule. There is a total of 233 members of the Rajya Sabha who are elected from the states and twelve members who are nominated by the President of India bringing the composition of the house to 245.In order for a bill to become a law it has to be passed by both houses of the Parliament and receive the assent of the President. The bill though can originate either in the Rajya Sabha or the Lok Sabha except for a money bill. A money bill is a kind of bill that affects either debits or credits to the Consolidated Fund of India and the Lok Sabha speaker is the final authority on whether or not a bill is a money bill. Therefore except for money bills the Rajya Sabha enjoys full legislative powers. Though the Rajya Sabha is required to revert on money bills within fourteen days of the Lok Sabha passing it if it fails to do so the bill is deemed to be passed.The Rajya Sabha is only empowered to suggest revision amendments to a money bill but even if all amendments are rejected by the Lok Sabha the money bill is still considered passed. The Constitution therefore gives the power of the purse exclusively to the Lok Sabha the logic being that since it s the people s House it should have the sole power of directing how the people s money is spent. Furthermore the ability to block finance can be used to stall the government machinery therefore the power is exercised by the House where the government is required to maintain a majority. Needless to say the failure to pass a money bill often triggers the resignation of the government.In case the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha cannot agree on a bill then a joint sitting of Parliament is held and the bill passes by a simple majority vote. The members in the Lok Sabha will always outnumber the members in the Rajya Sabha therefore this shifts the balance of power in the favour of the Lower House.Then why have the Rajya Sabha at all? If the Rajya Sabha has no real power to pass the legislation it wants then there seems to be no purpose at all for this second chamber of the Parliament. However the second chamber serves a very important function. This was best outlined by Gopalswami Ayyangar who in the Constituent Assembly had this to say about the role of the second chamber: The need for (a) second chamber had been felt practically all over the world wherever there are federations of any importance. After all the question for us to consider is whether it performs any useful function. The most that we expect the second chamber to do is perhaps to hold dignified debates on important issues and to delay legislation which might be the outcome of passions of the moment until the passions have subsided and calm consideration could be bestowed on the measures which will be before the Legislature; and we shall take care to provide in the Constitution that whenever on any important matter particularly matters relating to finance there is conflict between the House of the People and the Council of States it is the view of the House of the People that shall prevail. Therefore what we really achieve by the existence of this Second Chamber is only an an instrument by which we delay action which might be hastily conceived and we also give an opportunity perhaps to seasoned people who may not be in the thickest of political fray but who might be willing to participate in the debate with an amount of learning and importance which we do not ordinarily associate with a House of the People. That is all that is proposed in regard to this second chamber. I think on the whole the balance of consideration is in favour of having such a chamber and taking care to see that it does not prove a clog either to legislation or administration. The Rajya Sabha exists to take a second look at legislations and its job is to act as a key revising chamber. While the Lok Sabha ends up being very political as the government and the Opposition fight it out there the Rajya Sabha is expected to look at matters of national importance with a dispassionate view and a detached outlook. Its composition is expected to be made of senior statesmen who can bring their knowledge and experience to the functioning of the government. The Rajya Sabha also has a key role in protecting the interests of state governments who may be affected by the central legislation. Thus the Rajya Sabha serves as an effective check against too much populism that would control the government.File image of Ahmed Patel. PTIThe Rajya Sabha also has certain unique powers. It can call for the creation of an All India Service under Article 312 of the Constitution by passing a two-thirds resolution to that effect. This includes the power to create an All India Judicial Service. All India services are those which are under both the Union and the state and since the Rajya Sabha represents the states it can express their consent to the proposal by such a resolution.Article 249 also empowers the Rajya Sabha to pass a two-thirds resolution empowering the Parliament to make laws on certain matters in the exclusive domain of the states. This resolution needs to be renewed annually for the law to have force.Currently the Opposition has a majority in the Rajya Sabha. The Government is looking at taking control of both houses in order to move its legislative agenda speedily. This current round of elections is for seventeen seats in the Rajya Sabha. Ten ordinary elections and seven by elections caused by unforeseen vacancies. While this may not do much to upset the composition of the House the next set of elections for the Rajya Sabha involving states where the BJP has just come to power may affect and alter the composition greatly. The second chamber should ideally not toe the government line and be a bulwark against populist moves. The Rajya Sabha elections are therefore a set of elections that need to be watched with great scrutiny.
By: Express Web Desk | New Delhi | Updated: August 2 2017 12:08 pm The House was briefly adjourned after members of the Opposition trooped to the Well of Deputy Chairman P J Kurien and raised slogans. (Source: ANI) Related News Amit Shah Ahmed Patel Smriti Irani in fray: Gujarat braces for vote today as BJP Congress draw battlelinesRakhis for Gujarat Congress MLAs: Two tied by sisters others sent from homePartners in deceitThe Income-Tax raids against a Karnataka minister on Wednesday morning was raised in the Rajya Sabha with the Opposition blaming the NDA government of misusing state agencies. I-T sleuths conducted searches at a Bengaluru resort where 42 MLAs from Gujarat are staying since July 30 and the properties of minister D K Shivakumar. Rs 5 crore in cash was recovered from Shivakumar s residence in Delhi according to news agency PTI. His room at the Eagleton Golf Resort where the MLAs have been staying was also searched. Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma questioned the timing of the raids. It is now becoming a trend to blatantly misuse powers of the state. This minister was coordinating the stay of the Gujarat MLAs that is why it is a targeted timing he said in the Rajya Sabha. Union Minister Arun Jaitley countered him saying the minister parked himself in the resort and the area is not immune to conduct searches. No MLA has been seached. A particular individual had to be searched. He had parked himself in that resort. As of now they have taken him into his residence. No search or tax officers are at the resort. A Minister of Karnataka has been searched. The resort is not an immunity area. He has been taken to his residence and questioned there Jaitley said. Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said the houses of BJP leaders indulging in horse trading need to be searched. Conduct raids on residences of those people from your party (BJP) who are offering Rs 15 crores he said. The House was briefly adjourned after members of the Opposition trooped to the Well of Deputy Chairman P J Kurien and raised slogans. The I-T however claimed that the raids were planned well in advance The timing of the search was decided well in advance. The events involving certain MLAs of another state being brought to Karnataka were unforeseen and unpredictable events the department has claimed. For all the latest India News download Indian Express App More Related News Sack Maharashtra minister institute judicial probe: Congress Jairam Ramesh admits Congress facing existential crisis says party needs collective effort to overcome Modi-led BJP Tags: Congress Rajya Sabha PP.C.KulkarniAug 2 2017 at 8:18 pmHow can there be black money? Demonetisation was supposed to eradicate it.Reply MMalkit SinghAug 2 2017 at 7:44 pmAll corrupt politicians are the feathers of the same bird. All are corrupt whether in the ruling party or in the opposition. Some of them are pro industrial and getting unaccountable money to be spent on their rival parties to let down. If any leader is corrupt and facing trial in the court they are either try to purchase the sitting judges or transfer them on the name of promotion. These tactics have been used by Modi Government in Gujarat to have clean chits in Goldhara riots.The enquiry commission was appointed to enquire about who were behind the killings of innocent Sikhs one Mishra was purchased by the Congress party and he was taken in Rajya Sabha.These commission heads are corrupt and working as per directions of the ruling party. How one can get justice. In India justice is denied to poor downtrodden and minorities. These political parties have cleverly expert to change the facts into lies. They are expert to purchase and threaten others who are disagreed with themReply MMalkit SinghAug 2 2017 at 7:29 pmIn India corruption can be done by anybody. May be the politicians from ordinary constable to commissioners in defence from ordinary solider to Chief in offices from peon to high level officials in electronic media you can purchase any anchor press reporter in food process our food inspectors have generally closed their eyes over inferior type of foods in education public schools are looting on the name of education In Delhi itself police people prefers to pocket money which are to be deposited in the government exchequer. In our courts what is happening without kickback your case will continue for 50 years and justice is denied. For example in 1984 more than 3000 Sikhs were mercilessly killed by Congress RSS goons where i s justice only crocodile tears. During debate inTV representatives of different parties have no remorse for those people who are killed by the uncons utional cow vigilantes. Who is honest and to whom we should blame for this large scale corruptionReply MMalkit SinghAug 2 2017 at 7:16 pmWhat does BJP say about corruption of their own leaders. How many raids were given on the corrupt leaders of BJP. There are not hundred but thousand cases of corruption of BJP leaders. Recently in Chhatishgarh one minister Brijmohan Aggarwal has encroached the government land. A few days ago Chief of Kerala BJP was caught for taking bribe of Rs 6 crores. After demonetization maximum black money was recovered from these BJP leaders. Before demonetization dubious land deals were executed with their black money as they know fully that demonetization was to be declared by their party.. Black money was recovered from the BJP leader in Punjab as well from Madhya Pradesh leader. Who is funding Amit Shah who is roaming using chartered planes from one place t another place. What were the sources of funds during elections either for t he Centre or for the states. Admitted Congress is corrupt but BJP is the most corrupt party in India.Wherefrom they got 15 crores to purchase MLAs.Reply CCitizenAug 2 2017 at 6:26 pmAccording to these guys corruption should be allowed freely so that only few can progress at the cost of nation/citizens. Most shameless guys if they are really clean why blame others. Timing so they are going to get a bill to inform the culprits before 6/12 months so that they can have plenty of time to correct their nefarious acts??? They have lost the moral ground and are wasting public money by disturbing the august house instead of asking the rulers to provide relief to the flood hit areas their elected guys are enjoying with the tainted money away from the state leaving the citizens to suffer. JaihindReply NNamasivayam ChokkalingamAug 2 2017 at 6:25 pmOne wonders how any raid can be conducted by any autonomous body without obtaining formal permission from Mr. Anand Sharma M. P.Reply DDamodar BiswalAug 2 2017 at 6:20 pmHow can congress explain recovery of 10.5 crores cash from the minister s residence?Is it not embarrassing for congress leaders who called the raid witch - hunt?Reply UundefinedAug 2 2017 at 5:33 pmTiming is good!!. Each one repeats same in cycle and then they may stop doing corruption. But Indian political population is a strange one and may start bribing each other! Congress also did all kind of tactics! Timing of investigation of corrupt DMK - daughter!Reply Load More Comments
NEW DELHI: BJP has become the largest party in the Rajya Sabha overtaking Congress by one seat with tribal leader Sampathiya Uikey being sworn in as member of the House of Elders on Thursday. Uikey has come to the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh unopposed in a bypoll necessitated by the death of environment minister Anil Madhav Dave. This does not signal BJP-NDA gaining a majority but the ruling coalition is close and will gain seats in the next round of Rajya Sabha polls. BJP has 58 seats of its own and Congress is followed by Samajwadi Party (18) AIADMK (13) Trinamool Congress (12) and JD(U) (10). The SP numbers will begin to fall once the new UP assembly begins to fill vacancies. Read this story in Bengali NDA now has 121 Rajya Sabha MPs including several regional parties and new ally JD(U) and this just falls short of the half-way mark of 123 in the 245 member House. BJP numbers will be boosted in 2018 when it could win nine out of 10 seats in Uttar Pradesh further evening the balance and providing relief to party managers since opposition has repeatedly stalled legislations. BJP will keep upholding constitutional parliamentary and democratic traditions in the Rajya Sabha said BJP general secretary Bhupender Yadav on the party having the largest tally in the Upper House. On Tuesday polling for nine Rajya Sabha seats will take place including six in West Bengal and three in Gujarat. BJP President Amit Shah and union information and broadcasting minister Smriti Irani are set to win from Gujarat. The party is also leaving no stone unturned to defeat senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel who is vying to retain his Rajya Sabha membership from Gujarat.
Written by Liz Mathew | New Delhi | Published:August 5 2017 6:05 am he BJP s strength has gone up to 58 overtaking the Congress s 57 with the election of Sampathiya Uikey from Madhya Pradesh. Uikey a tribal leader took oath as Rajya Sabha member on Thursday. Top News Gujarat Rajya Sabha elections live updates: Shankarsinh Vaghela says he did not vote for Ahmed PatelSushma Swaraj gets request to rescue man from Shah Rukh Khan s Jab Harry Met SejalFlipkart The Big Freedom Sale from August 9: Deals on Redmi Note 4 iPhone 6 and moreThe BJP has for the first time in its history become the single largest party in the Rajya Sabha overtaking the Congress by one seat. The ruling party which has clear majority in the Lok Sabha is expected to win more seats early next year but will still not be in majority in the 245-member Upper House. The BJP s strength has gone up to 58 overtaking the Congress s 57 with the election of Sampathiya Uikey from Madhya Pradesh. Uikey a tribal leader took oath as Rajya Sabha member on Thursday. If the BJP s third candidate Balwantsinh Rajput a former Congressman who joined the BJP last month manages to win the August 8 Rajya Sabha election from Gujarat defeating Congress veteran Ahmed Patel the party s tally will go up further. The BJP s strength in the Rajya Sabha remained below 50 during the NDA regime under Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The party s position is expected to improve in the coming years as the BJP and its allies are in power in 18 of the 29 states. Although the party is not likely to get majority on its own in the current term of the Narendra Modi government the government will have a smoother run in the Upper House with the support of allies and friendly parties. The recent developments in Bihar where Nitish Kumar s JD(U) returned to NDA also improved its position in the Rajya Sabha. Fifty-seven seats in the Rajya Sabha will fall vacant in April 2018. Of the 10 seats falling vacant from Uttar Pradesh the BJP which won a landslide victory in the recent election is expected to get as many as nine a gain of eight seats. The party s prospects would be bright in states like Madhya Pradesh Bihar Haryana and Rajasthan where seats will be vacated. In the elections to nine seats on August 8 six are in West Bengal and three in Gujarat. In West Bengal Mamata Banerjee s TMC is set to get five MPs elected while the Congress is expected to win one seat. For all the latest India News download Indian Express App More Top News Selfie on Brahmaputra bridge to cost Rs 10 000! Govt deactivates 11.44 lakh PAN cards: Is yours still active? Here s how to check TTrunAug 5 2017 at 1:44 pmAchey din for BJP but poor common man still has to get his tomato and onions right.Reply KkspAug 5 2017 at 11:32 amBJP deserves congratulations for the phoenix like rise of the party during last 3 years or so. This is a bunch of leaders who are highly focused on what they want to achieve and a lot of planning and organising goes into whatever action they take. There is no scope for laxity. To illustrate the point recently BJP conducted a mock VP election where some of the MPs failed to vote correctly.Reply TTheeaguAug 5 2017 at 10:39 amCongress is the only solution for good Governance. They should shun corruption. During the three years ruling BJP is implementing the schemes of Congress. Nothing new except demonitisation. The adverse effect demonitisation will be felt for another few years. BJP is only making noises and making common man life horrible. BJP preaching hate. No development. The Government inaugurating the projects of Congress. Self boasting. The strength of BJP is Congress weakness. They are not active in the absence of power. They have to wake up and should kept aside corrupted. This is expectation of non political persons.Reply SS.SureshAug 5 2017 at 7:55 amPeople know real fact.Reply PPooP PaPoOAug 5 2017 at 7:51 amCong mukt bharat is getting real day by day. So now Congress will be distant memory soon like the mughal and British Empire.----Jai hind. ReplyReplyRrick patelAug 5 2017 at 8:18 amit will be congress mukt divided bharat very soon.another pakistan congrats.ReplyDDipesh RathodAug 5 2017 at 10:52 amNo party is born to live a lifetime of government. Congress lived for 70 years and the nation wants a change in the agenda. We do not want overuse of secularism and democracy.IIndianAug 5 2017 at 12:43 pmDear Rick You are right but the current govt is not understanding this fact that if you divide people only to get power than one day when the limit of divide is reached than off course land will also be divided because country is made of people not land if there is no people then no country only land is there. I pray it doesn t happen but if any rebellion take place then China Pak will support them to separate as now they are supporting naxalites. I pray that the Majority people of India will understand the adverse affect of this divide of people and not let be divided. We are in 2017 this is the age of science and technology we should talk about infrastructure jobs medical facilities electricity education etc. but we are being forced to deviate from the core issues to unnecessary and fatal issues. AanonymousAug 5 2017 at 7:39 amThe Congress can still lead and dictate. Still it can thwart the nefarious BJP policies.ReplyPPooP PaPoOAug 5 2017 at 7:53 amHello ScamGress KhanGress BHAKT. About time you faced realityReplyPPooP PaPoOAug 5 2017 at 7:54 amScamGress KhanGress BHAKT. stop dreamingReply Load More Comments
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