The opposition has submitted a notice to move a no-confidence motion against Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar in Rajya Sabha, accusing him of conducting the house in a partisan manner. INDIA bloc’s move comes after continuous adjournment of the upper house following ruckus over George Soros-Sonia Gandhi links and the Adani bribery case.
Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh said a notice has been submitted to the secretary general of Rajya Sabha to move an adjournment motion against the chairman of the house. “All parties belonging to the INDIA group have had no option but to formally submit a no-confidence motion against the learned Hon'ble Chairman of the Rajya Sabha for the extremely partisan manner in which he has been conducting the proceedings of the Council of States. It has been a very painful decision for the INDIA parties to take, but in the interests of parliamentary democracy they have had to take this step,” Ramesh said in a post on X.
Jairam Ramesh along with Naseer Hussain submitted the notice to Rajya Sabha Secretary General P.C. Mody on Tuesday. According to reports, around 60 opposition MPs including members from the Congress, RJD, TMC, CPI, CPI(M), JMM, AAP and DMK have signed the notice. A minimum of 50 members must support a motion to remove the vice president.
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However, Congress leaders who hold Constitutional posts have not signed the notice. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and the floor leaders of various opposition parties are also not among the signatories, the sources said.
TMC MP and the party’s deputy leader in Rajya Sabha Sagarika Ghose said, "Signed by all and being moved today against Vice President. We do not have the numbers to win, but it is a strong message to fight for parliamentary democracy. Nothing against individuals, this is a fight for institutions,” PTI reported.
Since the beginning of the winter session of the Parliament, Dhankar had refused to allow adjournment motions moved by opposition parties on various issues including the Adani bribery case, Sambhal violence, Manipur clashes and Wayanad relief. The opposition was also upset with Dhankhar for allowing the members of the treasury benches to raise the Cong-Soros "link" issue in the Rajya Sabha. As per rules, a 14-day notice must be given for moving a motion to remove the vice president.