In contest to keep federalism alive, says RJD’s Jha

New Delhi, September 13

RJD MP Manoj Jha, who is Opposition’s joint candidate for the post of Rajya Sabha deputy chairperson, said he had accepted the candidature despite numbers in the House not favouring him for one reason and that was the health of parliamentary democracy and to keep alive the federal scheme of the Constitution.

Talking to The Tribune, Jha said he once lost a student union election by three votes and after his defeat, fellow students had regretted the poll outcome.

Urging Rajya Sabha members to “stand up and be counted” in front of people of the country, he said regional parties “should think before deciding on supporting candidates”.

“It is the collective wish of the Opposition that this election must not be seen as a contest for power to legislate at the level of the Centre. It should also not be seen as a contest between two individuals,” asserts Jha. — TNS