Master Stroke(09.08.18): Congress' strategy of uniting opposition for 2019 seems failing

The ruling NDA today comfortably bagged the post of deputy chairman of the Rajya Sabha with journalist-turned politician Harivansh of the JD(U) beating Congress' B K Hariprasad in an election that was seen as a test for the opposition unity ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
In a boost to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance(NDA), its candidate Harivansh, the 62-year-old first-time MP from the Nitish Kumar-led party, got 125 votes as against 101 polled by Hariprasad, who was the opposition nominee.
Hariprasad's vote count was revised downwards to 101 from the earlier 105 by the Rajya Sabha secretariat after tallying the final figures.
A total of 228 members out of an effective House strength of 244 voted thereby reducing the majority mark to 115, according to the final official figures.
Though the BJP-led NDA was present in the House in full strength with 97 MPs it needed the backing of other parties to clinch the deputy chairmanship. The alliance got the support of fence sitters BJD(9) and TRS(6). The AIADMK with 13 members also voted for the NDA.
The NDA also benefitted from the absence of some opposition members.
As many as 16 members were not present during voting, according to official figures.