Hold RS Deputy Chair poll, Oppn dares govt

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 16

A joint Opposition on Monday dared the government to hold elections to the post of Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, asking why it was delaying the notification on the same.

The Congress-led Opposition parties met in New Delhi to discuss the issue and said they would wait for the government to fill the vacancy as per the Constitution. Meanwhile, the TMC ruled itself out of the fray for the post and said it would be open to backing a non-Congress, non-TMC candidate.

Sources in the Opposition camp remained tightlipped on their candidate, though the NCP’s nominee may be the chosen one with Majeed Memon’s name under consideration among other probables from the SP and the JD-U.

TMC’s Sukhendu Shekhar Roy, whose name was among the contenders for the post, told The Tribune, “The TMC is not contesting this election.” He said the Opposition leaders quoted Article 89 sub-clause 2 of the Constitution at their meeting to resolve that the vacancy to the post of RS Deputy Chairman must be filled “as soon as possible”.

“The Constitution asks for this vacancy to be filled at the earliest. The earliest opportunity will arise the day the Rajya Sabha meets. The post fell vacant on July 1 when incumbent PJ Kurien of the Congress retired. Why is the government not notifying the election?” said CPM’s Mohd Salim.

Opposition parties will also wait to see the government’s nominee before finalising their candidate. “If the government works on a consensus, we will wait and see. When PJ Kurien was named for the post by his party, the Congress, ruling then, there was no contest. But it will depend on who they field,” TMC’s Roy told The Tribune.