NDA has majority in Rajya Sabha as well : Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rijiju on No Confidence motion against Jagdeep Dhankhar

NDA has majority: Kiren Rijiju on no-confidence motion against Jagdeep Dhankhar

The Opposition motion expressing 'no trust' in Dhankhar signed by over 70 MPs from parties including the Congress, Trinamool Congress (TMC), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Samajwadi Party, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) alleges bias in the conduct of House proceedings.

The Congress-led INDIA bloc submitted the no-confidence motion on Tuesday, citing "partisan functioning" by the Rajya Sabha Chairman. However, Kiren Rijiju clamped down on the motion, asserting that the NDA has the majority in the Upper House.

"The Congress party and their alliance continuously behaved wrongly by not following the direction of the Chair. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar Ji comes from a humble background and has always worked for farmers' and people's welfare. 

We respect him and are happy with the way he guides the House," Rijiju said, condemning the MPs who signed the notice.

"The NDA has the majority, and we all have faith in the Chairman."  

"All parties belonging to the INDIA group have had no option but to formally submit a no-confidence motion against the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha," Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said on X.

The Opposition accused Dhankhar of frequently interrupting speeches, particularly those of Congress President and Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, and denying adequate debate on critical issues.

They alleged violations of parliamentary norms, including instances where Kharge's microphone was turned off during his addresses.

The notice from Congress and other Opposition parties calls Dhankhar “explicitly partisan”and that he presides over the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha, India's House of elders, in “an extremely biased manner”.

-- It alleges that he publicly attacked Opposition MPs over views contrary to the position of the government.

"Opposition has reportedly attached newspaper clippings to make its case" - this itself may be self defeating because Parliament often does not take cognizance of media reports !!