With the term of the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman and Janata Dal-United (JD-U) senior leader Harivansh coming to an end on April 9, speculation has begun on who will replace him.
Three scenarios are being discussed. One, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may keep the seat for itself. Two, the seat may again go to the JD(U), or to the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) or All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). The AIADMK’s floor leader M. Thambidurai was the last Deputy Speaker in the Lok Sabha. Three, much as in the Lok Sabha, the government may choose not to hold an election for the Deputy Chairman’s post, allowing a Panel of Chairpersons to assist Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan. Since June 2019, the post of Deputy Speaker has remained vacant in the Lok Sabha.
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The TDP has only two members in the Upper House. The party was not keen on the Deputy Speaker’s post in the Lok Sabha when they were offered it in the 17th Lok Sabha, and there has been no significant change in its stance. The JD(U) has four members in the Upper House and could easily make the cut, though it is not yet clear whether the government would want to continue with the arrangement. Even though Mr. Thambidurai has a slim chance, considering the Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan is also from Tamil Nadu, the top two positions of the Upper House cannot be filled by persons belonging to the same State.
