Opposition Meet Today to discuss Monsoon Session Strategy

New Delhi, July 15: Amid indications that they will join hands in an election to elect the new Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman, opposition parties will meet here today evening to discuss their strategy for the Monsoon Session of Parliament beginning Wednesday. The meeting, convened by Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad and expected to be attended by leaders from major opposition parties, will discuss the strategy for the monsoon session besides the issue of election of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman following the retirement of P. J. Kurien on July 1. There have been indications that the government may not hold the election in the monsoon session while the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is yet to make its stance clear.

The Constitution does not specify a time frame for the election and there have been precedents of a new Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman being chosen a few months after the incumbent retired. The Opposition appears to have an edge in an election but much would depend on the stance of parties such as the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, AIADMK, the Biju Janata Dal and the YSR Congress.

There have been indications that Congress could back an opposition candidate for the post. While no party has said that it wants to put up a candidate, there is speculation that a joint nominee could belong to the Trinamool Congress or the Nationalist Congress Party. The chances of a consensus on the name of an opposition candidate are also seen as remote as the post has gone to the members of the ruling party in the recent past and there has been some speculation that in case of a contest, the BJP-led NDA could field Shiromani Akali Dal member Naresh Gujral as its candidate. (IANS)