BJP gains 11 seats in Rajya Sabha, Congress loses 4

BJP gains 11 seats in Rajya Sabha, Congress loses 4

The BJP has made a gain of 11 additional seats while the Congress suffered an overall loss of four in the biennial elections to 58 Rajya Sabha seats. With this, BJP has consolidated its position in the House, leaving its main rival far behind.

The BJP’s 28 candidates emerged victorious in the polls held on March 23 against 17 retiring members, while the Congress won only 10 seats. Fourteen members of the Congres will retire next week.

A calculation of tallies shows that the BJP’s strength in the 245-member House will go from the existing 58 to 69 and that of the Congress will fall from 54 to 50 when the new MPs take oath next week. However, a majority in the Council of States will continue to elude the BJP-led NDA.