The debate over who will be the the Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha is going to end on August 10. Rajya Sabha Chairperson and Vice President Venkaiah Naidu has announced that the elections for the post will take place on August 9. As per reports, National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) agree for Janata Dal (United) leader Harivansh Narayan Singh.
Clearing the clouds over the debate on who would lead the Upper House of the Parliament, Naidu announced that the elections will take place on Thursday and the results will be declared on Friday. The post has been vacant since previous Chairperson P J Kurien retired on July 1.
Commenting on the NDA’s selection, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said that the post should be chaired by a leader from the opposition party. He said, “We (the Opposition) would prefer to have a Deputy Chairman who is not from the ruling party or their allies. It will be in the fitness of things to have a Deputy Chairman from the Opposition.”
However, Azad refused to comment on who would be the candidate from Congress’ side, but said that the party will decide soon. He said, “The Congress party so far has not decided any candidate; the Opposition as such has not decided any candidate. But, we are very clear about it that it should be a consensus candidate.”