New Delhi, March 17 (NationPress) Samajwadi Party (SP) representative Ashutosh Verma criticized the Congress party on Tuesday for purportedly undermining the Mahagathbandhan during the Rajya Sabha elections. He stated that despite the issuance of whips, Congress legislators chose not to participate, thus leaving the alliance in a state of embarrassment.“In the realm of politics, particularly in Indian politics, the Rajya Sabha elections hold significant importance as they reflect your numerical strength and loyalty to your party. Even with a whip in place, members from the Congress party within the Mahagathbandhan abstained from participation,” Verma informed IANS. He further added, “Congress consistently betrays the Mahagathbandhan at critical moments, leading to the alliance's humiliation.”

SP MP Ram Gopal Yadav, while discussing the results of the Rajya Sabha elections, suggested that there exists internal discord within the Opposition, especially regarding cross-voting. “Why should I blame anyone? Something must have transpired—otherwise, why would there be cross-voting? It occurs when the ruling party directs its members to cross-vote, threatening to revoke their memberships,” he remarked, highlighting the alleged disarray in the Opposition's coordination.

BJP leaders celebrated the results as evidence of the NDA's cohesion and electoral prowess.

Bihar BJP State President Sanjay Saraogi referred to it as a “significant victory, a tremendous win for the NDA,” emphasizing the stark contrast between the united NDA and a fractured Opposition.

“The Opposition is fragmented, as demonstrated recently when Congress was unable to appoint its own leader. They displayed such uncertainty regarding their legislators that they had to confine them to hotels and their residences,” he claimed.

In a similar vein, BJP Spokesperson Pratul Shah Deo extended congratulations to the NDA while attributing the Opposition's absenteeism during the voting to their own shortcomings.

“First and foremost, congratulations are in order. The NDA has achieved a remarkable victory. Now, if the RJD and Congress MLAs choose not to attend and vote, it is their party’s obligation to ensure their attendance. With numerous abstentions, even the so-called ‘comfortable position’ now appears to be under threat,” Shah Deo told IANS.

The NDA secured 21 out of 37 Rajya Sabha seats, reinforcing the BJP's influence over the Upper House. The INDIA Bloc managed to obtain 13 seats, while the BJD captured one, with the counting for two Haryana seats currently on hold.

Out of the total 37 seats, 26 MPs were elected unopposed, which included seven from the BJP and one each from its allies: Shiv Sena, Republican Party of India (Athawale), NCP, AIADMK, Pattali Makkal Katchi, and the United People’s Party Liberal. The Congress won five seats unopposed, the Trinamool Congress four, the DMK three, and the NCP(SP) one.

The outcomes highlight the electoral strength of the BJP-led NDA and the challenges faced by the Opposition coalition in preserving unity amid internal conflicts.