Power equations change in RS

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 20

The side-effects of BJP’s monumental win in Uttar Pradesh have started showing in the Rajya Sabha where the Opposition has been making the most of its number advantage to put the Narendra Modi government in the dock in the past two-and-a-half years.

The House, which has been functioning most normally in reconvened Budget session, saw no fireworks when Congress leaders pressed for a demand for expeditiously taking up of a substantive motion on the conduct of the Governors of Goa and Manipur in not calling the single-largest party to form government after the Assembly elections.

In the past, the Congress has effectively used the number advantage to ensure adjournments over many issues, but its protests in the House over Goa and Manipur situations on a day Nongthombam Biren Singh won floor test in Manipur lacked the required punch.

Party leader Digvijaya Singh had on Friday moved a notice under Rule 267 seeking suspension of business to discuss the happenings in Goa but the Chair ruled the conduct of Governor could only be discussed under a substantive motion.

Another leader Anand Sharma charged the BJP of “committing theft (of mandate) by deceit”. Law and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said “murder of democracy” should not go on record, which was opposed by the Congress and other Opposition parties.

Prasad said the “in-house problems of Congress should not be shifted to the Governor”. JD-U’s Sharad Yadav supported the demand for early consideration of the motion. He said an impression has been given that when the issue first figured in the House, it would be taken up on Monday.