The Bharatiya Janata Party’s seeming political invincibility cannot be solely attributed to popular support. A docile, disorganised Opposition has been a significant contributor to this regime’s durability. The last round of elections to the Rajya Sabha laid bare the Opposition’s weaknesses — both in cohesion and strategy. In Maharashtra, in spite of not being in power, the BJP managed to get the better of one of the candidates of the Shiv Sena, which heads the coalition government in that state. Again, in Karnataka, where it had the numbers to elect two members, the BJP bagged three. The BJP’s aggression and superior back-room management stood in sharp contrast to the Opposition’s lethargy and the Congress’s inner squabbling. The bad blood between the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) reaped a poor harvest in Karnataka; in Haryana, the defeat of the Congress’s Ajay Maken on account of cross-voting by a Congressman — he has now been expelled — revealed its Achilles’ heel: inner feuding. Even Rajasthan, where the Congress put up a better showing, could, ironically, pose a headache for the party: this is because the old guard, not quite in favour with Rahul Gandhi, has delivered the goods. The Opposition’s insipid performance does not brighten the possibility of a spirited duel during the forthcoming presidential polls. The BJP may have the numbers stacked in its favour given its political dominance in state legislatures. But even a close contest may be vital to reinvigorate a wilting Opposition two years before the next general elections. This would require nimble thinking and, most importantly, unity. The Rajya Sabha polls exposed the Opposition’s lacunae on these two fronts.

After this round, the strength of the rival camps remains mostly unchanged. The BJP is yet to get an absolute majority in the Rajya Sabha; it remains dependent on allies to push through contentious legislations. The Congress won only a handful of the 57 seats up for fray. And therein hangs a sorry tale. The pursuit of political dominance in the upper House goes against the very tenet of its existence. Rajya Sabha members are expected to be insulated from the — petty — push and pull factors of politics. It is meant to be a sombre, reflective institution which debates the principle of the greater good and serves as a platform of federalism by remaining immune to political partisanship. The brutal game of numbers for numerical dominance in the Rajya Sabha undermines its sanctity.