Ahead of 2019, unity of Oppn to be tested in RS deputy chairman poll

The election for the Rajya Sabha deputy chairman’s post during Parliament’s upcoming monsoon session is likely to test Opposition unity before the next year’s Lok Sabha elections.

Amid the buzz that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) may push the name of its MP, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, as the common Opposition candidate for the deputy chairperson’s post, there are talks that key constituents of the ‘federal front’ and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) might take a calibrated stand on the nomination.

The election has been necessitated due to Congress leader and current Rajya Sabha deputy chairperson PJ Kurien retiring on July 2.

The Congress has hinted that it is open to supporting opposition parties but a final decision in this regard will be taken only after seeing who the proposed candidate is, leaders familiar with the matter said.

The party has also opened communication channels with the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the TMC, its rivals in Odisha and

NEW DELHI:

MPs of the BJP-led NDA in Upper House

OPPOSITION’s POSSIBLE GAMEPLAYS

If Trinamool Congress fields its candidate

BJD, TRS, SP and BSP may extend support. Nine Left MPs are likely to not vote for a TMC candidate . Congress may take a call depending on who is the candidate. DMK and other UPA constituents will follow the Congress route.

Likely outcome: If the Left decides to abstain from the poll, the Trinamool candidate may not win. West Bengal, respectively, to explore the possibilities of fielding a common candidate, Congress insiders said.

The Trinamool Congress said on Wednesday that it has not named any leader as its candidate for the deputy chairperson’s post so far.

“No decision on Opposition candidate for deputy chairman MPs of Cong, other Opposition parties Others: BJD has and YSR Congress If BJD names a candidate

Trinamool, Left and other parties may extend support. Congress is likely to extend support if BJD chief Naveen Patnaik fields the party’s candidate with prior consultations

Likely outcome: With the support of all Opposition parties, BJD candidate might win the poll (has been taken). We have not put up any name. United Opposition will come up with a name later,” party’s Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien said Wednesday.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, who enjoys a close working relation with both Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia MPs, TRS If Congress fields a candidate

Trinamool, BJD and TRS may not extend support while all other Opposition parties would rally behind the Congress.

Likely outcome: Without support of the 21 parliamentarians from Trinamool and BJD, the candidate may not be in a position to win Gandhi, maintained that the Left Front would not back any TMC candidate.

“In any circumstances, we will not support a Trinamool nominee,” Yechury said, adding a fresh dimension to the struggle within the Opposition to put up a joint fight against the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA).