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...

min read

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.

The Strength Behind Smiles

Divyaa Advaani
Oct 31, 2025
3 min read

Everyone’s fighting a battle you can’t see. Some wear their exhaustion under designer suits. Some hide it behind boardroom smiles. And yet, when life keeps throwing curveballs, the quiet whisper inside says, “Why me, always?”

What the world often sees is the highlight reel — smiling pictures, confident handshakes, flawless presentations. What it doesn’t see are the sleepless nights, the quiet doubts, and the countless times one gathers the strength to show up again. Everyone carries a story behind that smile, a silent resilience that keeps them moving forward. And yet, the irony is that we often mistake composure for comfort.

We scroll through glossy LinkedIn posts, watch peers speak on stages, and convince ourselves they’ve cracked the code. But the truth? They’re struggling too — just differently. The only distinction is this: they’ve learned how to show up with presence, not perfection.

And that, right there, is the secret difference between those who get seen and those who stay unseen.

In today’s hyper-visible world, your competence alone isn’t enough. People don’t buy your service, product, or position first — they buy your perception. The way you show up — online and offline — shapes how seriously the world takes you.

I once coached a founder from Pune who’d built a brilliant tech solution but couldn’t get a single investor meeting. His product was strong, his numbers impressive — yet, he came across as unsure and inconsistent online. We worked on refining his digital presence and communication for three sessions. Within eight weeks, he not only secured two investor introductions but also landed a pilot project he’d been chasing for a year. Nothing in his business changed — only how the world perceived him did.

In business and in life, perception often outruns reality. The world remembers how we show up, not always what we go through. And that’s where personal branding begins — not as a façade, but as the discipline to turn authenticity into strength, and struggle into silent power.

That’s what personal branding really is — not a logo, not a wardrobe upgrade, but a deliberate alignment between who you are and how you appear. It’s your reputation system working even when you aren’t in the room.

When leaders neglect their personal brand, they unknowingly let others write their story. And once that happens, it’s tough to reclaim the narrative.

A strong brand doesn’t just make you “look good.” It builds credibility, attracts collaborations, opens doors faster, and positions you as the trusted choice — in a world overflowing with options.

Every professional who says “enough now” when life gets heavy must realise — strength isn’t just surviving silently. It’s in learning to present that resilience in a way that inspires confidence, opportunity, and respect. That’s how personal brands are born — not from perfection, but from presence with purpose.

I’ve helped over 200 founders, executives, and professionals sharpen their presence to align with their goals — from attracting global investors to leading teams with greater authority. And it always starts with one question: “How are people experiencing you when you’re not in the room?”

If that question makes you pause — that’s your signal to act.

To help you begin, I’ve created a free one-page checklist titled “3 Signs Your Personal Brand Is Holding You Back.” You can get it by sending the word BRAND CHECKLIST via Instagram on @suaveu6 or LinkedIn @Divyaa Advaani or emailing suaveu6@gmail.com with the subject line CHECKLIST.

And if you’d like a more personalised start, you can also book a free 20-minute Brand Audit with me on https://sprect.com/pro/divyaaadvaani. In that call, I’ll give you three practical changes you can implement in the next week to be more visible, credible, and memorable in your industry. Just mention NEWSPAPER AUDIT when you reach out.

Because the truth is — everyone is struggling, but only a few choose to transform that struggle into their signature story.

(The author is a personal branding expert. She has clients from 14+ countries. Views personal.)

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