Delay likely in election of RS deputy chairman

The much-anticipated tussle between the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government and the Opposition for the post of the deputy chairman of the Rajya Sabha might not come about at all in the upcoming monsoon session, leaders across parties indicated on Tuesday.

Functionaries from the ruling dispensation, who asked not to be named, said that the rules for the election do not give any strict deadline for when the poll must be conducted, and argued that there was precedent of the election being delayed.

In such a situation, the House can be run by a panel of vicechairmen selected by the chairman, they added. “It can happen after the session as per rules,” said one of the people cited above, pointing out that the monsoon session, starting on July 18, will have just 18 working days.

The election has been necessitated because of Congress leader and Rajya Sabha deputy chairperson PJ Kurien’s retirement from the Upper House on July 2. The election is decided by a simple majority. The Opposition has 113 members in the Upper House to the NDA’s 95, but the result will depend on how 32 fence sitters vote.Government officials pointed out that there are at least three past instances when the election was delayed.

“In 2012, the office fell vacant on April 2 following expiry of the term of K Rehman Khan. The election, however, was held in next monsoon session as dates could not be finalised during the budget session,” said an official.

Another official said that in 2006 the election was held 40 days after the incumbent’s term got over, and in 2004, after the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) came to power, the election took place on July 22 even though the post had fallen vacant on June 10.

NEWDELHI: