How numbers played against the Opposition

NEWDELHI: When the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha started on Tuesday, it was almost clear to the Opposition parties that they would not be able to win the battle against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) over the Triple Talaq bill. Parties such as the BSP, the Telugu Desam Party, many leaders of the Samajwadi Party, and the NCP’S Sharad Pawar and Praful Patel were missing in action. As the debate on the bill progressed, many more MPS —including from parties such as the Congress, Peoples Democratic Party and one from Trinamool Congress — disappeared.