If chosen unanimously, would deem it honour: Gujral on Dy Chairman post

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 of all political parties. 

"Personally, I feel there should not be any contest for this post as Mr 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 would be successful in implementing the strategy it has been working in mind 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 the 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 the BSP comes up with a better idea," says an NDA leader.

The post had fallen vacant after Congress' PJ Kurien retired last month.

While Opposition parties are trying to project a non-Congress candidate for the post, Vice-President Naidu, who is also the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, suggested to both the government and the Opposition to elect the next Deputy Chairman unanimously.

The BJP leadership, which recently discussed the strategy for the upcoming Monsoon Session, is aware that Gujral has good friends and relations across party lines, which will help the saffron side in absence of Leader of the House Arun Jaitley who will be giving the proceedings a miss due to health reasons

Individually, the BJP has 69 members in the House and together with allies, the figure totals around 98 in the 250-member House. Along with fence-sitters like the BJD (9), TMC (13), AIADMK (13), TDP (6) and others the NDA seems to be in a position to tackle the Congress for which the Deputy Chairman elections are not just a matter of a post but also a show of unity and strength keeping in mind the upcoming General Elections.