In a significant development on Tuesday, opposition parties within the INDIA bloc filed a no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, accusing him of conducting parliamentary proceedings in a highly partisan manner. Congress MP Jairam Ramesh stated that all opposition parties in the INDIA alliance had decided to submit the motion, emphasizing that they did so in the interest of preserving parliamentary democracy.
The opposition MPs from parties such as Congress, RJD, TMC, CPI, CPI-M, JMM, AAP, and DMK have supported the motion, which they submitted to the Secretary General of the Rajya Sabha, garnering the backing of around 60 MPs. This surpasses the minimum requirement of 50 MPs needed to move a motion to remove the vice president.
Meanwhile, heated exchanges between the treasury benches and opposition MPs led to the adjournment of the Rajya Sabha once again. The ongoing clash centered on allegations linking top Congress leaders to American billionaire George Soros, further escalating tensions in the house. Opposition MPs continued their protests, demanding an investigation into Indian billionaire Gautam Adani’s alleged ties with the government. Protestors displayed caricatures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Adani, with the slogan “Modi Adani Bhai Bhai.”
Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala criticized the ruling party, accusing it of obstructing Parliament’s functioning, leading to a significant financial loss. He stated that such disruptions were unprecedented in Indian history.
The no-confidence motion against Dhankhar highlights the ongoing power struggle in the Rajya Sabha. Article 67(b) of the Constitution allows the Rajya Sabha to pass a resolution for removing the Vice President, which must also be approved by the Lok Sabha, provided the resolution is submitted with a 14-day notice.
