First time in Modi Govt tenure, BJP overtakes Congress as largest political party in Rajya Sabha

In a major win for Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah, the party on Thursday finally overtook Congress to become the largest political party in the Rajya Sabha, where it now has 58 members against 57 of the main opposition party.

BJP MP Sampatiya Uikey, who was elected to the Upper House following a by-poll in Madhya Pradesh took oath on Thursday.

His election was necessitated by the death of Union Minister Anil Madhav Dave.

This is the first time that the saffron party has become the number one formation in the RS after the Narendra Modi government came to power in May 2014.

The BJP-led NDA, however, is still short of a decisive majority in the house but the joining of JD(U) to the ruling block has further boosted its numbers.

Shah has been working round the clock to change this position of NDA in the Upper House, where the Opposition has been able to block some of the bills by the government. 

Also read: Rajya Sabha biennial elections: BJP gains edge, still lacks majority