Budget Session of Parliament: BJP bask in Rajya Sabha with a strength of 69 members

The recently concluded elections on 58 seats have consolidated BJP’s position as the largest party in the Rajya Sabha with 69 seats. In comparison the Congress seat share has fallen to 50 seats from 54 in the recently concluded elections.

41 out of the 58 newly elected and re-elected members took oath on Tuesday. Among these were union ministers including Mansukh L Mandaviya (elected from Gujarat), Jagat Prakash Nadda (Himachal Pradesh), Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan (Madhya Pradesh), Ravi Shankar Prasad (Bihar) and HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar (Maharashtra)

Despite a surge in numbers, however, the 126-mark majority continues to elude the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The NDA now has 85 seats in the Rajya Sabha (not including TDP’s six seats in the Upper House).

Many elected members chose to took oath in their native languages. Rajya Sabha chairman, M Venkaiah Naidu said as many as nine languages were used to take oath, reflecting India’s linguistic heritage.

He hoped the newly elected members and re-elected members would raise people-oriented issues and enhance the dignity and prestige of the House.

While almost all the members of the ruling NDA took oath by swearing in the name of god, HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar, re-elected from Maharashtra, took oath affirming his alligence to the Constitution of India.

TMC’s Mohammad Nadimul Haque, who was re-elected from West Bengal, swore in the name of ‘Allah’, while Union Minister Tharwar Chand Gehlot took oath in Sanskrit.

SHORT OF MAJORITY

Despite a surge in numbers, however, the 126-mark majority continues to elude the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The NDA now has 85 seats in Rajya Sabha