Electoral Winds Favor BJP as Rajya Sabha Dynamics Set to Change Post-State Elections
New Delhi, 4th December 2023: The assembly election results are set to not only bolster the BJP’s presence in various states but also significantly impact its standing in the country’s Parliament. Following these results, the party’s dynamics in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house representing the states, are poised to change, propelling the BJP beyond the coveted 100-seat mark—a milestone it has been eagerly anticipating.
However, realization of this goal is contingent upon waiting until 2026. Currently, the BJP commands 94 seats in the Rajya Sabha, while its NDA alliance collectively holds 108 seats.
The states contributing to the BJP’s newfound strength in the Rajya Sabha include Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, all of which witnessed decisive victories for the party. Historically, two of these states were under the Congress Party’s rule. As per the current Rajya Sabha composition, these three states collectively account for 26 seats. Notably, Madhya Pradesh holds the majority with 11 seats, of which BJP currently occupies eight, leaving three with the Congress.
Similarly, in Rajasthan, out of the total ten seats, the Congress currently controls six, while the BJP maintains a hold on four. Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh’s five Rajya Sabha seats are currently distributed with Congress holding four and BJP one.
Presently, both BJP and Congress each possess around 13 Rajya Sabha seats in these three states. Post the electoral shifts, Congress is projected to retain only three to four seats, with the remainder favoring the BJP. However, the BJP will have to exercise patience until 2026, as Congress’s seat in these states will become vacant in 2024, with five more seats opening up in 2026, and the rest in 2028.
Despite the setback faced by Congress in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan in the Rajya Sabha, the party stands to benefit from its victories in Telangana. The state currently holds all seven Rajya Sabha seats, all under the BRS. Congress is anticipated to secure approximately three to four new seats from Telangana, offsetting the losses suffered in the three aforementioned states.
It’s worth noting that presently, Congress commands a total of 30 seats in the Rajya Sabha, while the INDIA alliance led by it collectively holds about 98 seats.
