Congress To Boycott Breakfast Organised For New Dy Chairman
NDA candidate Harivansh Narayan Singh got 125 votes, as against the 105 votes which the Opposition candidate got.
NDA candidate Harivansh Narayan Singh was elected the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman with 125 votes on Thursday, 9 August. The Opposition candidate BK Hariprasad managed to get 105 votes.
The Congress will be boycotting the breakfast organised by Venkaiah Naidu for the new Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman.
Soon after the election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Singh, who is an MP from the Janata Dal (United). The new Dy Chairman also said that he hoped to clear differences through constructive debate.
- “I congratulate Harivansh ji on behalf of the whole House. He has been blessed with the talent of writing,” PM Modi said
- “Sometimes we win and sometimes we lose,”said Sonia Gandhi after the results of the election were announced
- The AAP decided to “boycott” the election after rejecting Nitish Kumar’s request to support the NDA nominee
- Despite lacking majority in the Rajya Sabha, the BJP-led ruling alliance got an upper-hand in the election with the support of BJD
- The post of the deputy chairman had been lying vacant since June this year following the retirement of PJ Kurien
Today's Results Show Desperation of Govt: Derek O' Brien
Speaking about the results, TMC leader Derek O’ Brien told PTI that the various opposition parties were still “united” in their fight against the BJP and the NDA government.
The election is certainly not the end of the world for us. These are just the warm up matches for the world cup and it should be played and there the voters are different,” he added.
Congress To Boycott Breakfast Organised For New Dy Chairman
Congress will boycott the breakfast organised by Venkaiah Naidu on Friday, 10 August, for new members and the deputy chairperson of the Rajya Sabha.
Hope For Constructive Debate, Consensus in House: Harivansh Singh
Newly elected Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Singh said it would be his endeavour to uphold the dignity of the Upper House and expressed hope that differences would be ironed out through constructive debates, consensus and guidance.
The JD(U) member said, "Treading on rules and procedures framed by our Constitution makers, we can lead the country to greatness...There would be differences in debates, there would be different opinions... We can find out a way.”
"I got this opportunity to be here...I am frightened, surrounded by so many experienced people but this is my strength too as you all will guide me and I assure you I will run the House in a fair and decent manner," he added.
'Sometimes We Win, Sometimes We Lose': Sonia Gandhi
Reacting to the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman election, in which the NDA candidate Harivansh Narayan Singh scored a victory over Opposition's BN Harisprasad, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi said, "Sometimes we win and sometimes we lose."
'Harivansh ji Has Been Blessed With the Talent of Writing': PM Modi
Soon after the election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Singh, saying:
NDA Candidate Harivansh Narayan Singh Elected as Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman
NDA candidate and JD(U) MP Harivansh Narayan Singh was elected as the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman with 125 votes. The Opposition’s candidate BK Hariprasad managed to get 105 votes, reported ANI.
'Supporting JD(U) Candidate Due to Ideological Similarity, Cong Candidate Was Vitriolic': BJD
In a statement released by the BJD ahead of the Rajya Sabha deputy chairman polls, the party said it is supporting the JD(U) since both of them have "similar ideological origins, emerging from the Jayaprakash Narayan movement."
'Election Result is a Foregone Conclusion': NDA Candidate Harivansh Narayan Singh
Speaking to ANI, NDA candidate Harivansh Narayan Singh expressed confidence that they would win, saying the "election result is a foregone conclusion".
Who All Are Abstaining?
Among those who have decided to abstain from voting in the election to the post of Rajya Sabha deputy chairman are AAP, which has three MPs, and the People's Democratic Party (PD), which has two MPs.
The two MPs from YSRCP would also be abstaining.
This brings the effective strength of the Rajya Sabha to 237, with the majority mark being 119.
Arun Jaitley Likely to be Present in the House to Participate in the Voting
According to media reports, Rajya Sabha MP Arun Jaitley is likely to be present in the Upper House during the election, making it his first appearance in Parliament during the Monsoon Session.
"Jaitleyji will be present in the House on Thursday to participate in the voting," a source told PTI.
Jaitley had to step aside as finance minister in May as he had to undergo a kidney transplant operation.
'Confident That We Have the Required Numbers': Opposition Candidate BK Hariprasad
Speaking to ANI ahead of the election to the post of Rajya Sabha deputy chairman, Opposition candidate BK Hariprasad expressed confidence that they have the required numbers.
AAP to Boycott the Election, Says Congress Never Sought its Support
The AAP has decided to "boycott" the election to the post of Rajya Sabha deputy chairman on Thursday, according to party MP Sanjay Singh.
Singh said Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal rejected his Bihar counterpart and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar's request to support the NDA nominee, Harivansh Narayan Singh, in the election as he has the backing of the BJP.
He said that since Congress President Rahul Gandhi has not sought AAP's support for the Opposition's candidate, the Kejriwal-led party "has no option but to boycott the poll tomorrow".
Later, he tweeted: "Nitish Kumar ji spoke to Arvind Kejriwal ji, seeking support for JD(U) candidate. Since he is a BJP-backed nominee, it is not possible to support him. Rahul Gandhi ji does not want support for his candidate... then AAP has no option, but to boycott the poll."
"If Rahul Gandhi can hug Narendra Modi, why cannot he ask Arvind Kejriwal to support his party's candidate?" Singh asked.
The AAP has three MPs from Delhi in the Rajya Sabha.
(PTI)
BJD to Support NDA Candidate: Naveen Patnaik
Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik's BJD has decided to support the NDA-backed JD(U) candidate for the election to the post of Rajya Sabha deputy chairman.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday night, Patnaik said:
PM Narendra Modi had called up BJD president Patnaik on Wednesday seeking his party's support for the NDA candidate.
Modi had telephoned Patnaik when the latter was attending an investment meet in Mumbai and asked for support of the nine BJD MPs to the NDA candidate – Harivansh Narayan Singh of the JD(U), BJD sources said, reported PTI.
Shiv Sena to Back NDA Candidate
The Shiv Sena, will back the NDA candidate, Harivansh Narayan Singh, for the election to the post of the Rajya Sabha’s deputy chairman, the party said on Wednesday, 8 August.
“We will back the NDA candidate,” Shiv Sena MP Anil Desai, told PTI.
The Shiv Sena’s decision to back the NDA candidate is important, as its relations with the BJP had soured considerably, after the former had refused to participate in the no-confidence motion against the latter on 20 July.
'We'll Talk to the Opposition Leaders and Discuss What is to be Done': BK Hariprasad
Responding to reports that he would be the candidate for the post of Deputy Chairman in the Rajya Sabha, Congress leader BK Hariprasad said:
NDA, Opposition Seek BJD's Support
The BJD on Tuesday said both the NDA and the Opposition have sought its support for their candidates to the post of the Rajya Sabha deputy chairman.
BJP president Amit Shah, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar spoke with Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik separately on Tuesday.
They sought BJD's support for NDA's nominee and JD(U) leader Harivansh Narayan Singh for the deputy chairperson's post.
However, the BJD will make a final announcement on Wednesday as per the decision of party president Naveen Patnaik, he said.
(IANS)
Contest to be Between Congress and JD(U) Candidates
The contest for the post of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman is expected to be between a Congress nominee backed by other opposition parties and the candidate of the ruling BJP-led NDA, as NCP on Tuesday decided against putting up a candidate for the election.
Sources told IANS that the NCP decided not to field Vandana Chavan, whose name was being "actively considered" by opposition parties, after sensing that she would not get extra support from BJD and Shiv Sena.
Congress will give the motion in favour of its nominee on Wednesday. All the motions for the election of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman will be moved on Thursday and taken for vote in succession. If a motion gets carried, others will not be taken up in the House.
(IANS)
Oppn Meeting to Discuss Candidate for RS Dy Chairman Election Begins
The meeting of Opposition leaders to discuss a joint candidate for the election to the post of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman has begun in the chamber of Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad.
Sukhbir Singh Badal Call For a Party Meeting
President of Shiromani Akali Dal Sukhbir Singh Badal called a meeting of party's Rajya Sabha MPs at his Delhi residence later on Tuesday.
According to PTI, the Opposition camp believes the NCP would try to convince another NDA ally - the Shiromani Akali Dal - to vote for Chavan.
"SAD is not very pleased with NDA. They have good relations with NCP. If they vote for Chavan, it will certainly not be very easy for NDA," an opposition leader told PTI.
Nothing Has Been Decided Yet: Vandana Chavan, NCP
NCP MP Vandana Chavan clarified that she has not been finalised yet as the Opposition candidate for the post of Rajya Sabha deputy chairman.
Rajya Sabha Adjourned Briefly
Rajya Sabha adjourned twice briefly following noisy protests by Trinamool Congress MPs over Assam's National Register of Citizens.
NCP's Vandana Chavan is the Opposition Candidate: Reports
As opposition leaders met on Tuesday to decide on the candidate for the post of Rajya Sabha deputy chairman, CNN-News18 cited sources as saying that NCP's Vandana Chavan has emerged as their consensus candidate.
Nitish Kumar Calls Up Telangana CM Requesting Support for RS Deputy Chairman Polls
JD(U) President Nitish Kumar reached out to Telangana CM K Chandrashekar Rao on Tuesday, requesting the support of TRS for Harivansh Narayan Singh in the election to the post of deputy chairman of Rajya Sabha.
The Bihar chief minister rang up the Telangana Rashtra Samithi president on Tuesday morning and made the request, according to Rao's office, reported PTI.
Rao reportedly told him he would discuss the issue with his party colleagues and take a final decision.
The Numbers Game
While the BJP is the largest party in the Upper House with 73 members, the NDA lacks majority in the Rajya Sabha. BJP's allies JD(U), Shiv Sena, Akali Dal have six, three and three members respectively.
Therefore, along with nominated and independent members affiliated to it, the BJP is banking on the support of regional parties the AIADMK, BJD, TRS and YSR Congress, all of whom have lent support to it now and then.
These four regional parties account for 29 members in the Rajya Sabha and their support to the NDA candidate would mean the total number would add up to 126, which is above the majority mark.
However, if parties like BJD or TRS abstain from voting, then things will become more precarious for the ruling alliance.
The Congress has 50 members.
(With inputs from PTI)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)