March 10, 2021 The Senate chair’s election on March 12 will be tantalizing on its own, thanks to the way the Senate elections became far more thrilling than one would have thought. At the moment, the opposition holds 49 seats in a closely divided Upper House while the government holds 47. The result of the election will be decided by simple majority in a secret ballot held to determine this. There are however many factors at stake given the close division between the parties. There were two independents in the House who could vote either way. But one of these independents, Abdul Qadir, joined the PTI on Tuesday after meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan. He was already expected to vote in favour of the Balochistan Awami Party and Sadiq Sanjrani. This makes the task harder for the opposition. Then there is the undecided vote of the Jamaat-e-Islami, which has remained neutral and may not cast that vote at all. The fact that Ishaq Dar is not present and is not likely to be present on March 12, cuts down the opposition majority further.