Govt seeks recalculation of Rajya Sabha votes on FDI

The government has sought a recalculation of votes on FDI in multi-brand retail in Rajya Sabha as the total exceeds the strength of the House.

The government has sought a recalculation of votes on FDI in multi-brand retail in Rajya Sabha as the total exceeds the strength of the House.

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Minister of state for parliamentary affairs Rajeev Shukla said that a recalculation would be done.

"Yes, we are going for the re-calculation. It will start once the house is adjourned for the day," he said.

Rajya Sabha is now taking up private members bills.

The total strength of Rajya Sabha is 245 and with the death of ex-Maharashtra chief minister and union minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, it now has 244 members.

Of these as per the results declared by chairman Hamid Ansari, 109 votes were in favour of the motion against FDI while 123 votes were against the motion and in favour of the government.

Nine members of the Samajwadi Party walked out while seven members - Devender Goud T, Gundu Sudharani and YS Chowdhary of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP); Janata Dal-United MP Bashistha Narain Singh, who was in Bihar; expelled Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Pyarimohan Mohapatra; Congress leader Murli Deora, who has undergone an operation and cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, who is playing in the test series against Engand - were absent.

The total of these votes would be 248 which is four more than the present strength of the house.