BJP hopes to add power to party’s voice in Rajya Sabha newly elected MP Syed Zafar Islam

Ravi S Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 18

BJP’s strategist in Rajya Sabha hopes to add power to the party’s voice in the House on issues relating to the economy, especially financial market and allied subjects, through its newly elected MP Syed Zafar Islam.

A former investment banker and BJP national spokesperson, Islam has been elected to Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh. He took the oath, along with other MPs, on the opening day of the current the Monsoon Session.

With issues relating to the country’s economy likely to dominate national discourse in the coming times, the Opposition is expected to train its critical gaze in the Parliament on the performance and policies of the BJP-led NDA dispensation at the Centre.

With the BJP well placed in the Lok Sabha, at least till the time full term of the present House, it is subjected to vulnerabilities to possible headwinds in the Rajya Sabha where its numbers would be predicated on its periodic performances electorally in the states.

Hence, the BJP will have to bolster up its pool of talent resource to counter a feisty Opposition in the Rajya Sabha.

The sling of debates and discussions from the Opposition benches in the Upper House had been sharp and of good quality during the first tenure of the Narendra Modi government and the present as well.

House Chairman Venkaiah Naidu has, on many occasions in the past, also appreciated the quality of debate and discussions and the contributions by the Members of Parliament regarding the productivity of the House under his watch.

The BJP has brought Islam to the Rajya Sabha through the quota of the state Uttar Pradesh ruled by it, even though he is a native of Jharkhand.

Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar.

In a political sense, the BJP is also indirectly trying to create a buzz in the two states by politically elevating Islam to the Rajya Sabha.

Also, through Islam’s election, BJP has apparently sought to counter the allegation that Muslims were ignored, especially under Yogi Adityanath’s dispensation in Uttar Pradesh.