12 members elected unopposed, NDA secures majority in Rajya Sabha
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has crossed the majority in the Rajya Sabha after nine BJP members and two from its allies were elected unopposed. The two members to be elected unopposed included one each from Ajit Pawar's faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Rashtriya Lok Manch (RLM), both allies of the NDA. Senior Congress leader and attorney Abhishek Manu Singhvi was also elected to the Rajya Sabha from Telangana.
Additional support for NDA in Rajya Sabha
The BJP's strength now stands at 96, propelling the NDA's total to 112 in the Upper House. The opposition's tally, on the other hand, had climbed to 85. In addition to its own members, the NDA also enjoys the backing of six nominated and one independent member. The Rajya Sabha has a maximum of 250 members, with 238 elected by states and union territories and 12 appointed by the President. Currently, it has 237 members, with 119 representing the majority.
Unopposed BJP candidates in Rajya Sabha by-polls
The BJP candidates who were elected unopposed include Mission Ranjan Dass and Rameshwar Teli from Assam, Manan Kumar Mishra from Bihar, Kiran Chadhary from Haryana, George Kurien from Madhya Pradesh, Dhirya Sheel Patil from Maharashtra, Mamata Mohanta from Odisha, Ravneet Singh Bittu from Rajasthan and Rajeev Bhattacharjee from Tripura. Nitin Patil of the NCP was elected unopposed for Maharashtra while Updendra Kushwaha of the RLM secured a seat for Bihar.
NDA's majority to ease passage of contentious bills
The NDA's majority in the Rajya Sabha, a goal pursued for a decade, is expected to simplify the approval of contentious bills. In the past, large opposition numbers often stalled government bills, including Triple Talaq, in the Upper House. Some were passed with assistance from non-aligned parties like Biju Janata Dal and YSR Congress. However, this new majority will lessen NDA's reliance on these parties for passing crucial legislation.
