New Delhi – The first day of the Parliament Winter Session witnessed a heated exchange as Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge‘s remarks about the new Rajya Sabha chairman CP Radhakrishnan and former vice president Jagdeep Dhankhar’s sudden resignation drew sharp rebukes from BJP leaders. The controversy highlighted the charged political atmosphere as Parliament proceedings commenced on Monday.
Kharge Welcomes New Rajya Sabha Chairman
Mallikarjun Kharge, speaking on behalf of the Opposition, welcomed the new Rajya Sabha chairman CP Radhakrishnan on his first day presiding over the upper house. While assuring cooperation in conducting proceedings, Kharge also raised concerns about the unexpected departure of the previous chairman, setting off a political firestorm.
“I am constrained to refer to your predecessor’s unexpected and sudden exit from the office of Chairman, which is unprecedented in the annals of Parliamentary history,” stated Kharge, the leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha. His comments about the Rajya Sabha chairman position immediately triggered uproar from ruling party benches.
Unprecedented Resignation Mentioned
Kharge highlighted that Jagdeep Dhankhar, who served as Rajya Sabha chairman by virtue of his position as Vice-President of India, had resigned from the post on July 21 over health issues. This resignation, by default, also vacated the Rajya Sabha chairman seat, creating what Kharge described as an unprecedented situation in parliamentary history.
“I was disheartened that this House did not get an opportunity to give him a farewell,” Kharge expressed, emphasizing the Opposition’s disappointment at the abrupt nature of the transition to the new Rajya Sabha chairman without proper parliamentary traditions being observed.
Constitutional Values and Parliamentary Traditions
While welcoming the new Rajya Sabha chairman, Kharge stressed that the Congress “staunchly stands by Constitutional values and time-honoured Parliamentary traditions.” He assured Radhakrishnan of Opposition cooperation in conducting proceedings but added a caveat about expectations from the office.
“Fair and impartial conduct of proceedings, providing just opportunity to members of each party, is essential for credibility of this office,” Kharge stated, laying out his expectations for how the new Rajya Sabha chairman should conduct parliamentary business.
Congress Connection Highlighted
Kharge also mentioned that the new Rajya Sabha chairman CP Radhakrishnan is related to former three-term Lok Sabha MP CK Kuppuswamy, who was a Congress member. “It is better if you keep a balance between both sides. I wish you a successful term… The background you come from was mentioned by the PM, but you should also not forget you are from a Congress family,” Kharge said.
This reference to family political history added another layer to Kharge’s welcome address for the Rajya Sabha chairman, subtly suggesting expectations based on this connection.
Kiren Rijiju’s Sharp Response
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju strongly criticized Kharge for mentioning Dhankhar’s resignation during what should have been a “solemn occasion” of welcoming the new Rajya Sabha chairman. “This is a very solemn occasion… The Prime Minister has made very dignified remarks as part of the felicitation event. Why did the honourable Leader of Opposition refer to a case which was not necessary to be raised at this moment?” Rijiju questioned.
Rijiju also referenced past conflicts: “The language you used for the former chairman, the way you insulted him, the motion you served, we still have that copy,” he stated, alluding to no-confidence motions moved against Dhankhar during his tenure as Rajya Sabha chairman.
JP Nadda’s ‘Doctor’ Jibe
Leader of the House JP Nadda intervened with even sharper criticism, urging members to maintain the dignity of the occasion while welcoming the Rajya Sabha chairman. He characterized Kharge’s comments as irrelevant and pointed to past Opposition actions against Dhankhar.
“This program is a pious occasion. We should maintain the dignity of the occasion. The issue that the Leader of Opposition raised, if we start discussing this, it is irrelevant… We will also have to mention that you brought a no-confidence motion against him twice,” Nadda stated.
Nadda then delivered a particularly pointed jab: “The loss of Bihar and Haryana must have given you a lot of pain… But you should express your pain and suffering to a doctor. You should speak to a doctor when the time comes,” he said, linking Kharge’s remarks about the Rajya Sabha chairman to electoral defeats.
PM Modi’s Pre-Session Address Context
The clash over the Rajya Sabha chairman welcome occurred against the backdrop of Prime Minister Modi’s pre-session address. Modi had stated that the Opposition was perturbed by electoral losses in Bihar and unable to digest its failure. “Defeat should not be the ground to create disruption. Victory should not convert into arrogance either,” Modi had said.
The Prime Minister emphasized that “Parliament is not a place for drama, it is a place for delivery,” and should not be used by the Opposition to vent frustration after poll defeats. This framing influenced how BJP leaders responded to Kharge’s Rajya Sabha chairman remarks.
PM Modi on Electoral Defeats
Kharge had also responded to PM Modi’s external statement: “Secondly, PM gave a statement outside [Parliament]. He attacked us indirectly as well, we will reply to it here,” he said before the BJP’s retorts followed. This exchange highlighted how remarks about the Rajya Sabha chairman became entangled with broader political conflicts.
Stormy Start to Winter Session
The controversy surrounding the Rajya Sabha chairman welcome ceremony set a contentious tone for the Parliament Winter Session. What should have been a dignified occasion to welcome CP Radhakrishnan descended into political accusations and counter-accusations, raising questions about cooperation during the session.
Conclusion
The heated exchange over welcoming the new Rajya Sabha chairman demonstrates the deep polarization in Indian parliamentary politics. Kharge’s attempt to raise concerns about Dhankhar’s unprecedented resignation while welcoming the new Rajya Sabha chairman backfired politically, providing BJP leaders opportunities for sharp rebuttals.
As CP Radhakrishnan assumes his role as Rajya Sabha chairman, the challenge of maintaining impartiality and parliamentary dignity amid such charged political dynamics becomes evident. The incident suggests the Winter Session may witness continued confrontations rather than the productive cooperation both sides claim to support.
