Opposition to field Mamata Banerjee pick for deputy Rajya Sabha chief post

Another face-off is on the anvil between the government and Opposition parties as the Monsoon Session of Parliament commences in mid-July. The elections to the deputy chairperson of Rajya Sabha will be intensely fought by two sides. 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.

The BJP is also leaving no stone unturned to take away this post from the Opposition. While Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien denied his party has put up any name, sources here said Opposition parties were converging on the point to field a non-Congress Opposition candidate to garner support from TRS, TDP and other regional groups. "There is no decision on any Opposition candidate. We have not put up any name. The united Opposition will come up with a name," said Derek.

The Congress' PJ Kurien was Deputy Chairperson since 2012. The Congress has 51 seats in the 245-member House. The party, however, realises that to ensure a non-BJP victory, it needs Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) on board. Both these parties are okay to backing Mamata's candidate for the role.

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.

THE LAST BATTLE

The year 1992 was the last time the Rajya Sabha saw an election to the post of deputy chairperson. Najma Heptullah, who is now with BJP, won with 128 votes against 95 of Oppn’s Renuka Chowdhary.