NDA closer to Rajya Sabha majority but BJP's core agenda may have to wait

The Rajya Sabha may continue to remain a concern for the govt for some more time

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance is inching closer to the majority mark of 123 in the 245-member Rajya Sabha. It is set to be just half a dozen seats short of that mark by the middle of this month.

The majority mark, at least on paper, would elude it for another year but recent defections of four Telugu Desam Party and one Indian National Lok Dal members to the BJP indicates it could, if it so wishes, get to the mark sooner. "It could achieve it tomorrow," said Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien. 

The BJP, however, is keener on