New Delhi: Mayawati-led BSP has emerged as
the third largest party in the Rajya Sabha, relegating the
CPI(M) to fourth position in yet another bad news for Marxists
ahead of the Assembly polls in West Bengal and Kerala.
The strength of CPI(M) has come down from 16 to 15 while
that of BSP has risen from 13 to 18 in the 245-member Upper
House after the last month`s biennial elections to 55 seats.
While the BSP`s graph is rising in the Upper House, the
Samajwadi Party, its arch rival in Uttar Pradesh, has suffered
the sharpest erosion in its strength (five from 11).
Besides Congress and BJP, the parties which improved
their tallies include DMK (seven from four seats), BJD (six
from four seats) and Telugu Desam Party (four from two seats).
The parties whose strength in Rajya Sabha has come down
include Jayalalithaa`s AIADMK which has five members now
against the earlier seven.
Despite the fact that it won most of the 55 seats in the
biennial elections, the UPA still has no majority in the Upper
House. The numbers are more or less the same for the ruling
alliance and the Congress tally is now 70 including two
nominated members. Its strength would go to 71 with a vacancy
from Haryana being filled soon.
The strength of Sharad Pawar-led NCP has risen to seven
from six while that of Trinamool Congress, another major ally
of the UPA, remains at two. The National Conference`s tally
remains at two.
The BJP`s strength has gone up from 47 to 49. The party
scored impressive victories in Karnataka and Rajasthan, but
lost a seat in Jharkhand.
As regards other NDA allies, there has been no change in
the numbers for JD(U), Shiv Sena and Shiromani Akaki Dal which
continue to be at seven, four and three respectively.
Experts say that with numbers not much on its side, the
ruling alliance may have to sing the mantra of consensus on
several key issues and legislations including its pet reforms
programmes.
The government is short of majority in the Rajya Sabha
since long and more so after the UPA-II came into existence
following the Lok Sabha polls last year.
PTI
