New Delhi. All the three BJP candidates, including Foreign Minister S Jaishankar,( S Jaishankar) have reached the Rajya Sabha unopposed from Gujarat. Apart from Foreign Minister Jaishankar, some 11 leaders, including Kesaridev Singh Jhala and Babu Desai and Trinamool Congress leaders Derek O’Brien, Saket Gokhale, were believed to be elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha. Congress was not in a position to field any candidate due to lack of sufficient numbers in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly and due to this the way was cleared for the three candidates of BJP to be elected unopposed.
On the other hand, in West Bengal, six TMC candidates including Derek-O’Brien and one BJP candidate have been elected unopposed. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar filed his nomination for the Rajya Sabha on 10 July. The tenure of the three members from Gujarat was ending on 18 August. After the unopposed election, the number of BJP members has now increased to 93 in the Rajya Sabha.
6 leaders of Trinamool Congress reach Rajya Sabha unopposed
On July 24, voting was to be held for 6 seats in West Bengal, three in Gujarat and one seat in Goa. Monday (July 17) was the last day for withdrawal of nominations from the election. With this, the way was cleared for 6 candidates of Trinamool Congress and 5 candidates of BJP to reach Rajya Sabha unopposed. Trinamool has also won the by-election for one Rajya Sabha seat in West Bengal.
Congress lost one seat
The BJP has nominated Babubhai Desai and Kesaridev Singh Jhala from Gujarat, Anant Maharaj from West Bengal and Sadanand Shet Tanavade from Goa. Apart from Derek O’Brien, other Trinamool Congress leaders Sukhendu Shekhar Roy, Dola Sen, Saket Gokhale, Sameerul Islam and Prakash Barik have been elected unopposed. The Congress has lost one seat and will be left with 30 members in the Rajya Sabha.
BJP still far from majority
Seven seats in the 245-member Rajya Sabha will fall vacant after July 24. With four seats in Jammu and Kashmir, two nominated and one vacant seat in Uttar Pradesh, the total seats in the Rajya Sabha will come down to 238 and the majority mark will be 120. The BJP and its allies will have 105 members. It is also certain that the BJP will get the support of five nominated and two independent MPs. Therefore, the number of members in favor of the government will be 112, which is eight less than the majority figure.