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By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

BJP closer to RS majority as strategic gains reshape math

Mumbai: The Bharatiya Janata Party has moved decisively closer to an outright majority in the Rajya Sabha after the latest biennial polls, a shift that political strategists say is the product of careful arithmetic, opportunistic cross voting and a sustained focus on state level strength. With the ruling party now holding 106 of the 245 seats in the Upper House, it stands 17 short of the 123 seat majority mark; yet the pattern of recent results and the calendar of forthcoming vacancies make a...

BJP closer to RS majority as strategic gains reshape math

Mumbai: The Bharatiya Janata Party has moved decisively closer to an outright majority in the Rajya Sabha after the latest biennial polls, a shift that political strategists say is the product of careful arithmetic, opportunistic cross voting and a sustained focus on state level strength. With the ruling party now holding 106 of the 245 seats in the Upper House, it stands 17 short of the 123 seat majority mark; yet the pattern of recent results and the calendar of forthcoming vacancies make a clear path to an absolute majority by 2028 increasingly plausible. The immediate momentum came from the most recent contest for 37 Rajya Sabha seats, where the ruling combine secured 22 seats against the opposition’s 15. That outcome not only added two seats beyond the BJP’s assured tally but also exposed fault lines within the opposition, where discipline lapses and strategic miscalculations allowed the ruling side to convert narrow advantages into concrete gains. Analysts point to instances of cross voting and the inability of opposition parties to present united slates as decisive factors that amplified the BJP’s returns beyond what raw assembly numbers might have predicted. In the months ahead, 35 more Rajya Sabha seats are scheduled for election, with vacancies arising in states such as Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Based on current assembly compositions, projections suggest the BJP could add roughly six seats in the near term, nudging its tally to about 112. That incremental growth, while not decisive on its own, tightens the margin and increases the leverage the party enjoys in parliamentary negotiations. Next Calendar The calendar beyond the immediate cycle further favors the ruling party. In 2027 only a handful of seats — largely from Kerala — are due to fall vacant, offering little opportunity for a major shift. The pivotal year appears to be 2028, when multiple vacancies are expected in politically consequential states. Maharashtra, where the BJP’s legislative strength allows it to elect more candidates than the number of retiring members, and Uttar Pradesh, which will see a significant tranche of 11 seats vacated, are likely to be the main battlegrounds. Given the BJP’s current foothold in both states, party strategists and observers alike regard the 2028 cycle as the most probable moment when the 17 seat deficit could be erased. Political operatives describe the BJP’s approach as a blend of long term state level investment and short term tactical manoeuvres. At the state level, the party has focused on winning assembly elections and building alliances that translate into Rajya Sabha strength. Tactically, the recent polls demonstrated an ability to exploit divisions within the opposition, whether through direct negotiations with regional leaders, leveraging dissident legislators, or capitalising on the fragmented nature of multi party contests. The result is a steady accumulation of seats that, over successive biennial cycles, compounds into a structural advantage in the Upper House. For the opposition, the challenge is two-fold: to defend regional strongholds in the upcoming state elections and to maintain internal cohesion. The Rajya Sabha’s indirect electoral mechanism means that every state assembly contest carries national significance; a swing in a single assembly can alter the Upper House calculus months later. Opposition leaders face the immediate task of shoring up their legislative numbers and preventing defections or tactical cross voting that could further erode their position.

Multiple deaths expose Anandnagar MIDCs’ poor roads

Ambernath: The Vaibhav Hotel junction in the Anandnagar MIDC area of Ambernath East has increasingly turned into a dangerous traffic spot, with several accidents reported over the past year and repeated complaints from citizens about poor and incomplete traffic planning. While accidents have occurred at multiple locations across the region, official data shows that a total of 29 accidents have been reported in Ambernath, Badlapur, and Ulhasnagar areas, raising serious concerns about overall traffic safety and administrative negligence.


The Anandnagar MIDC junction near Vaibhav Hotel sees heavy daily traffic, including MIDC workers, school and college students, ambulances, and heavy vehicles. Despite this, the junction still lacks basic safety infrastructure such as zebra crossings, stop lines, and proper dividers. Although a traffic signal has been installed, local residents say it has proved to be an incomplete and ineffective measure in the absence of essential road markings and pedestrian facilities.


Due to the lack of clear road markings and pedestrian crossings, both motorists and pedestrians are often confused about where to stop and where to cross, leading to frequent traffic chaos and a higher risk of accidents. Locals claim that several serious accidents, including fatal ones, have occurred in and around this area, but the authorities have failed to take decisive and comprehensive action.


According to information received from the Assistant Commissioner of Police’s office, a total of 29 accidents have been reported across the region 4 in Ambernath East, 12 in Ambernath West, 3 in Badlapur East, 2 in Badlapur West, and 8 in the Ulhasnagar Camp No. 5 area. This data, citizens say, highlights the wider problem of inadequate and unscientific traffic planning in the region.


Apart from the Vaibhav Hotel junction, locations such as the Ambernath East–West flyover, the road in front of ITI, Matka Chowk, Jambul Road, and Forest Naka are also increasingly being identified as accident-prone due to poor planning, insufficient signage, and incomplete work.


In several places, roads have been dug up for signal-related work and temporarily covered only with metal plates, with the work remaining incomplete for days. This has created obstacles for motorists and further increased the risk of accidents.


While Speaking to The Perfect Voice, Suyog Pawar, President of Siddharth Multi-Purpose Social Organisation, said, “There are serious shortcomings in traffic management in the Anandnagar MIDC and Vaibhav Hotel area. Instead of limiting measures only to installing a signal, essential facilities like zebra crossings, stop lines, and dividers must be completed immediately. This will certainly help reduce accidents and improve public safety.”


Meanwhile, attempts to contact Ambernath Municipal Council Chief Officer Umakant Gaikwad and City Engineer Rajesh Tadvi for their response were unsuccessful, as both officials did not answer calls.


Citizens are now asking a direct question If innocent lives are being lost due to faulty and incomplete traffic planning, who is responsible the municipal administration or the traffic department? Residents say that instead of taking temporary steps after accidents occur, the authorities must implement proper and scientific traffic planning to prevent further loss of life.

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