RS number game may help BJP in biennial poll but Cong to

The arithmetic in Rajya Sabha, where BJP lacks majority, is set to be more favourable to the government as the ruling party will gain in numbers and Congress will lose in biennial elections to 57 seats next month.
However, this it may not be enough for the passage of key GST bill. Despite the numerical changes in the Upper House before the monsoon session, Congress will remain the largest party.
In the current 245-member Upper House, Congress has 64 seats and BJP 49.
While 14 members each of Congress and BJP are retiring, the ruling party can win 17-18 seats due to its increased numbers in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana and Jharkhand assemblies while the the opposition party is unlikely to secure more than 8-9 seats.

BJP had recently got a boost with the nomination of six new members by the government.
Its ally TDP is expected to do well in Andhra Pradesh, which will have four vacancies, while AIADMK, seen to be more friendly to BJP, will bag most of the six seats facing elections.

Out of the total 57 seats going to polls, six members belong to BSP, five are from JD(U), three each from SP, BJD and AIADMK.
In Uttar Pradesh, ruling Samajwadi Party is set to win a majority of 11 seats followed by BSP while BJP will retain one seat. At present, BSP has six of these seats and SP three.

A BJP leader claimed that the change in Rajya Sabha numbers will be more favourable to the government not only because of an increase in BJP's strength but also that regional parties like SP and TRS are more amenable to its legislative agenda like the GST bill.
In Bihar, ruling JD(U) is not in a position to win more than two out of the five seats, all of which belong to it.
JD(U) ally RJD, which emerged as the single largest party in the state Assembly polls last year, can win two seats. BJP sources said the party will be able to win one seat.

Biennial elections to the 57 seats, including the one vacated by liquor baron Vijay Mallya, will be held on June 11, the Election Commission had said yesterday.