RS Dy chairman election: Oppn yet to declare name
NEW DELHI: Even though ruling alliance is likely to field JD(U) member Harivansh Narayan Singh, the oppositions are yet to decide their ‘consensus’ candidate for the deputy chairman election in Rajya Sabha, after a flurry of meetings on Tuesday, a day before the nomination filing deadline. The united-oppositions are likely to announce the name on Wednesday morning.
However, many names are in the round, NCP member Vandana Chavan, DMK member Tiruchi Shiva and nominated member K T S Tulsi are in the fray. However, Chavan snubbed all the reports.
After the no-confidence show, which was stolen by the NDA, now the election for deputy chairman post is going be a significant platform to show the ‘Opposition Unity’. Sources said, amid their minority position in the Upper House of the Parliament Congress is eager to retain the position as the erstwhile deputy chairman PJ Kurien represented the party. The current strength of Rajya Sabha is 244 and support of 123 members will be needed for a win in the full house.
On Monday, during the House preceding the Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu announced the election date on August 9, at 11 am and the deadline of filing nomination would be on Wednesday (August 8) at 12 pm. He also suggested that the deputy chairperson should be elected by consensus.
Article 89 of the Constitution stipulates that the vacancy for the post of Rajya Sabha deputy chairperson has to be filled up at the earliest. “The council of States shall, as soon as may be, choose a member of the council to be Deputy a thereof and, as often as the office of Deputy Chairman becomes vacant, the council shall choose another member to be Deputy Chairman thereof,” states clause 2 of Article 89.
According to the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of Rajya Sabha, in the absence of a deputy chairman, the vice-president may nominate from among the members of the council a panel of not more than six vice-chairperson to preside over the council.
In the twist and twirl, reportedly Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar personally sought for Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao’s support to the NDA candidate and his party’s member Harivansh on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the NDA also might face a problem as its ally Shiv Sena and Akali Dal reportedly not happy with the decision, as both the political quarters claimed that they were kept out of the loop.