(This story originally appeared in on May 15, 2014)

NEW DELHI: If exit polls get the numbers right on May 16, the BJP may not need additional allies to form the NDA government at Centre. But, the party will still need more numbers in Rajya Sabha if it wants to avoid an embarrassing situation like what the then Rajiv Gandhi-led government had faced in Upper House of the Parliament in 1989.Despite having a thumping majority in Lok Sabha, the Congress could not get an amendment Bill to confer constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions passed in Rajya Sabha.Almost entire opposition had got united to defeat the Bill which, being a constitutional amendment Bill, needed two-third majority of the House. The Bill could be passed only two years later when Congress had come back to power in 1991.BJP would obviously not like repeat of such a situation. It can, however, avoid it only if it gets more strength in the Rajya Sabha by adding up figures of as many allies as possible to its side.At present, the NDA has only 64 members in the Upper House as compared to 80 of the UPA. While left and others including BSP, Trinamool Congress and AIADMK have 96 members, five seats remain vacant in the 245-member House.The UPA-II could get many legislation passed as it invariable got support of BSP or SP or both on many occasions. But, will the BJP be able to get such support from different quarters?The party cannot be sure of this and it is certainly not a happy situation for the BJP. It will have to tread cautiously while bring any legislation in Parliament. An ordinary law requires simple majority in the Parliament whereas a constitutional amendment bill needs to be passed by two-third majority.Existing strength of the Rajya Sabha shows that the NDA in its present strength (64) will not be able to get the key legislations passed unless the BJP fishes for more allies and increases numbers in the Upper House.Though the Rajya Sabha will have 12 vacancies this year, the BJP may not get all as it does not have adequate numbers in Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka state assemblies. Seven out of these 12 vacancies will arise in UP as compared to two in Karnataka and one each in Uttarakhand, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh.The RSS's advice to the BJP to look for more allies assumes significance in that sense. The party's current move to open its line of communication with BJD, TRS and YSR Congress is, therefore, more of a necessity than a strategic one in this number game.