Upper House to have 8 new heads

The ruling party,which is in a minority in the Upper House,is slated to increase its tally from 18 to 26 after it nominates the new members to the Legislative council.

The members are likely to be nominated after the new government has been formed at the Centre.

Besides the eight members,the BSP will add another nominated member,who had resigned after being elected to Rajya Sabha early this year.

The retiring members are four each from the BSP and the BJP.

They were nominated for six years in 2003 during the Mayawati-led BSP-BJP coalition government.

An official of the UP Legislative council said Election Commission notifies the nomination of the members after the state government decides on whom to nominate to the Upper House.”

The job of the Legislative Council is confined to administering the oath of office to new members,” the official said.

Increasing its strength in the Upper House is crucial for the BSP for the smooth conduction of business.

In the last two years of its rule in UP,the ruling party had to face embarrassment in the House several times,since the Upper House is dominated by the Opposition Samajwadi Party.

Several bills were blocked or referred to the select committee at the instance of the Opposition.

The present strength of the SP in the Upper House is 36,followed by the BJP (23),BSP (18),Rashtriya Lok Dal (5),Congress (4),teachers group (8),Independents (2) and four seats are vacant.