Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called Orissa CM Naveen Patnaik twice seeking the support of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in favour of the NDA nominee Harivansh Narayan Singh in the election for the post of Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

"It is likely that the BJD will support the NDA candidate rather than remain neutral", www.jharkhandstatenews.com has learnt from Bhubneshwar this evening.

If BJD MPs voted in favour of the NDA nominee Harivansh, a number of changes can be visible in the national and regional politics. One, Harivansh can win the election slated to be held on Thursday. Two, the BJD can be backing the ruling NDA in the forthcoming general elections in 2019. This can add strength to the NDA led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Alongside, the Opposition has backed the Congress MP BK Hariprasad as their joint candidate. The post of Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha has been vacant since the retirement of PJ Kurien in June.

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Daily World picture shows Harivansh filing nomination for election to RS Deputy Secretary election

Though BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is yet to open his cards, senior leaders of the party indicated that after Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and  Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked to him twice, Patnaik was keeping his mouth shut-"But we have reasons to believe that he may direct BJD MPs to vote in favour of the NDA candidate",said a senior BJD leader. 

In any case,the election to the post of deputy chairman is set to be a litmus test for opposition parties led by the Congress as it is eying to retain the position. The fact is despite being the single largest party, the BJP lacks a majority. 

All now depends on the support of regional parties including BJD, AIADMK, TRS and YSR Congress. So far Akali Dal and the Shiv Sena have indicated that their MPs can vote for the Harivansh.

Table: Rajya Sabha numbers, party wise

Rajya Sabha Strength 245
Vacant Seats 01
Magic Number 122
   

NDA

90
BJP 73
BPF 01
JD(U) 06
Nominated 04
NPF 01
RPI (A) 01
SAD 03
SDF 01
 
Joint opposition 112
Aam Aadmi Party 03
Trinamool Congress 13
Bahujan Samaj Party 04
Communist Party of India 02
Communist Party of India (M) 05
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam 04
Congress 50
Indian Union Muslim League 01
JD(S) 01
Kerala Congress (M) 01
Nationalist Congress Party 04
Rashtriya Janata Dal 05
Samajwadi Party 13
Telegu Desam Party 06
 
Undecided 42
AIADMK 13
BJD 09
Independents 06
TRS 06
Shiv Sena 03
YSRCP 02
PDP 02
INLD 01
Vacant 01

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