First time JD(U) MP Harivansh set to be NDA choice, Opp to announce its candidate today
After the recent face-off on the No-Confidence Motion in the lok Sabha, the NDA and the Opposition parties are now locked in another battle. This time the scene has shifted to the Rajya Sabha where first time Janata Dal (U) MP Harivansh is set to be the NDA candidate for the office of Deputy Chairperson, while the Opposition is likely to arrive at a consensus name on Tuesday.
Chairman of the Upper House M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday announced the election will take place on August 9, setting off hectic activities in both camps. The post fell vacant in June following the end of term of PJ Kurien.
While the BJP is the single largest party in the House with 73 members, it falls short of the magical number 112 required to win the election in the 245- member RS. The Opposition’s combined strength in the Upper House, including the erstwhile BJP-ally TDP, has 117. The BJP also counts on possible support of the AIADMK (14) as well of four of the six Independent members and three of the four nominated members.
The BJD with nine members and the TRS with six members have been maintaining equal distance from both the BJP and the Congress and are yet to decide their call. The YSRCP, with two seats, has decided to vote against the BJP candidate.
In addition, the stand of NDA ally like Shiv Sena would be important. Though Sena is part of the ruling coalition, it abstained on the recent no-trust vote against the NDA Government. The AIADMK with 37 MPs in the lower House had voted against the motion.
The Opposition parties had earlier tried to bring the BJD under its net by offering to support party’s nominee for the post, but party chief and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik reportedly reiterated his position to maintain equidistance from the BJP and the Congress in national politics.
While sources confirmed a consensus has been reached among the NDA partners over candidature of Harivansh of the JD(U), the Opposition parties are in the process of finalising their candidate. The Opposition held a meeting on Monday evening and discussed names for the candidature. According to sources, there could be toss up between NCP’s Vandana Chavan and DMK’s Tiruchy Shiva as the Opposition choice.
The prospects of putting up Congress-backed Trinamool Congress member Sukhendu Shekar Roy failed due to stiff opposition from left parties.
Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel, SP’s Ram Gopal Yadav, DMK’s Tiruchi Siva, BSP’s Satish Chandra Mishra, NCP’s Praful Patel, CPI’s D Raja, TMC’s Derek O’Brien, RJD’s Misa Bharti, CPI(M)’s T K Rangarajan and TDP’s CM Ramesh were among those who attended the meeting in the chamber of leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad.
Sources said leaders met to prepare the Opposition strategy for the election and discuss various names for zeroing in on a candidate they can jointly field against the NDA nominee.
Naidu had suggested that the Deputy Chairman should be elected by consensus. The nomination papers will have to be filed before August 8 noon.
“Opposition parties will collectively decide whenever the situation demands…the process has begun. We are for filling up the vacancy as early as possible…we don’t know what is the thinking of the Government,” senior CPI leader and Rajya Sabha member D Raja said.