Congress is ready to back a Trinamool Congress leader for the post of Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha
Highlights
- Congress to back Trinamool leader for Rajya Sabha deputy post: sources
- Government inclined to contest for post despite not having the numbers
- Last time election took place for deputy chairperson's post was in 1992
With the government seemed inclined towards forcing an election for the post of Rajya Sabha deputy chairperson, the Congress has decided to establish 2019 squad goals by supporting Mamata Banerjee's candidate, despite enough numbers to pitch its own.
Opposition parties have been sounded out about Sukhendu Shekhar Roy of Trinamool Congress as a likely candidate for the post always held by the Congress, barring eight years between 1969 and 1977.
With the election seen as one more test of the opposition's ability to unite against the BJP for state and national polls, the Congress, say sources, has decided to back Mr Roy as candidate.
On record, Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien denies that his party has put up any name. "There is no decision on any opposition candidate. We have not put up any name. The united opposition will come up with a name," he said.
The Congress' PJ Kurien was Deputy Chairperson since 2012.
The Congress, with 51 seats in the 245-member Rajya Sabha, would have been the natural claimant. The party, however, realises that to ensure a non-BJP victory, it needs the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Telegana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) on board; the Biju Janata Dal of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Telangana's ruling party, both favour Mamata Banerjee's party man for the role.
These are the parties that have shown more interest in corralling non-Congress and non-BJP parties into a third front for mission 2019.
The last time an election took place for the Rajya Sabha deputy chairperson's post was in 1992. The fight was between Congress candidate Najma Heptullah, who is now with the BJP, and Renuka Chowdhary, who was the opposition candidate. Najma Heptulla won with 128 votes against Renuka Chowdhary's 95.
Twenty-six years on, a contest seems likely again with the BJP not ready to concede to a united opposition candidate even though the numbers are stacked against the ruling alliance.
The nomination and election process will take place during the monsoon session of parliament, which starts on July 18.