New Delhi: Twelve opposition parties have confirmed their support for the candidature of Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Manoj Jha for the Rajya Sabha deputy chairman’s election, to be held on 14 September, ThePrint has learnt.
The parties are the Congress, Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, Nationalist Congress Party, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Shiv Sena, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Kerala Congress (M), Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Indian Union Muslim League.
A senior Congress leader, who asked not to be named, told ThePrint that senior leaders from their party, the SP and DMK were also in talks with other opposition parties such as the Bahujan Samaj Party and Aam Aadmi Party to garner support for Jha.
“We are reaching out to all opposition parties,” the Congress leader said.
The opposition, led by the Congress, had zeroed in on Jha as the joint candidate to ensure the election for the post of Rajya Sabha deputy chairman doesn’t go uncontested.
In a telephonic interview with ThePrint, Jha said, “I will be filing my nomination tomorrow.”
The RJD MP was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 2018.
The post of deputy chairman fell vacant after the term of Harivansh Singh, a Janata Dal (United) member, ended in April. The JD(U) leader has been nominated the NDA candidate for the upcoming election.
Jha’s name, sources said, was mooted by both Congress and SP leaders, with an eye on the Bihar elections scheduled to take place this year. Jha said the Congress had been in touch with the RJD’s senior leadership, which decided on his name.
However, despite the support, Jha will not be able to defeat NDA’s candidate unless he garners 123 votes in the 245-member strong Upper House.
Together, the Congress and the other like-minded opposition parties mentioned have 91 members. If the BSP and AAP also lend support, this tally will go up to 95, still a good 28 votes short from the winning mark.
Also read: Spate of defections in Bihar — why JD(U) minister joined RJD & 3 MLAs went the other way
Not in it to win it
Jha said he was aware this was in all likelihood going to be a symbolic fight, but added that not all elections are fought to be won.
“The opposition wishes to send across the message that in a parliamentary democracy, the ruling party has to engage the opposition. But in the current fragmented political environment, the BJP is simply not willing to listen to the opposition. The opposition has been demonised.”
The RJD leader said that whether he wins or loses, he is not going to belie the trust the opposition has reposed in him.
Smooth sailing for NDA
In contrast to the opposition members’ strength, the BJP has 87 MPs, the highest number of MPs from a single party in Rajya Sabha. The NDA’s tally stands at 101.
Sources said NDA leaders have reached out to friendly allies such as the Biju Janata Dal, YSR Congress Party and Telangana Rashtra Samithi, with whose support, the NDA votes will touch 123, the half-way mark.
“Bihar CM Nitish Kumar called up Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik Thursday morning seeking support for JD(U)’s Harivansh. Though no formal announcement has been made, we will support NDA’s candidate,” a senior BJD leader, who did not want to be named, told ThePrint.
Also read: Congress eyes Rajya Sabha deputy chairperson post but numbers pose a challenge
Symbolism is the bane of leadership it misleads.
Just saying
Only in INDIA can journalist go gaya over jailed corrupt leader who is secular according to their criteria and obiviously congrass stands in support. No suprises there.
Don’t consider Print as media, it’s a leaflet distributer of Chinese Congress!