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Thursday’s contest for the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman became a prominent marker not just because it was being held after 26 years: the Congress billed it as a litmus test of Opposition unity. But the lesson that went home is that it is best not to fight without a foolproof strategy. The message that finally went out is that despite a majority in Rajya Sabha, the Opposition comprehensively lost the plot to the ruling BJP. Congress managers had exuded optimism, quietly suggesting that the scales were evenly balanced. In the end it was anything but that. The tally was 125 votes for the government’s side as against 101 for the Congress candidate.
Harivansh Singh’s (JD-U) candidature put the Congress in a disadvantageous position. The old socialist block led by Nitish Kumar held him in good stead as his personal reachout, such as to Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, won over dithering votes while the absence of phone calls from the Congress led to the AAP sitting it out. Several others, including the AIADMK and TRS, detected no political traction in demonstrating unsolicited enthusiasm for a Congress candidate. In the end, it was tardy floor management that widened the margin of defeat: 17 votes for the Congress did not materialise whereas the BJP pulled in every member and ally — healthy, sulking or ailing.
The BJP achieved two political aims with one stone. The Congress’ strategy to raise the ante of a usually low-profile election and then ending up on the losing side once again highlighted the BJP’s organisational acumen. Rather, the Congress candidate’s defeat margin showed it still has a big hill to climb. Under fire from allies for neglect and disregard, the BJP could turn around that charge by showing it has space for allies, at least in quasi-important positions. If it was a test of Opposition unity, the challengers for 2019 pulled up short on strategy.