RS Dy Chairman: Gujral willing to be unanimous pick

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 17

Akali leader Naresh Gujral on Tuesday said he would accept the responsibility of becoming the NDA candidate for the post of Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha provided he is the unanimous choice.

“Personally I feel there should not be any contest for this post as M Venkaiah Naidu had also said earlier. As far as I am concerned, I am not in the race or a candidate for the post of the Deputy Chairman. However, if I am chosen unanimously by all parties then I would deem it an honour,” Gujral told The Tribune.

It is understood that BJD chief Naveen Patnaik and Trinamool Congress Mamata Banerjee, with whom Gujral shares good relations, are “not averse to his candidature”.

The strategy to dent the Opposition unity in Parliament, it appears, is working. Sources say BJP’s friend-turned-foe N Chandrababu Naidu of the TDP may also “not mind” supporting “old friend Gujral”.

If all pieces fall in place, the BJP-led NDA will be successful in implementing the strategy it has been working on for the 2019 Lok Sabha — fracture the Opposition unity. The BJP leadership has sounded Gujral, sources said, and he too is working to tap friends across party lines.

“Gujral is one person on which there can be a consensus. Giving the post to an ally also works well for BJP’s image. Besides, it can be safely assumed that Mamata Banerjee will not back a candidate of the Left and vice-versa. If the Congress knows number game is not in its favour, it will also prefer to support Gujral unless the SP or BSP comes up with a better idea,” says an NDA leader. The post fell vacant after Congress’ PJ Kurien retired last month.

Consensus?

• The government and the Opposition on Tuesday appeared open to talks on the election to the post of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman
• “The government has not yet spoken to us on the matter,” said Leader of Opposition in RS Ghulam Nabi Azad
• Earlier, MoS Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel said, “It is best to fill the post by consensus.”