The strained relationship between Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar and the INDIA bloc opposition parties reached a critical point on Friday, with reports indicating that the opposition is contemplating submitting a notice to initiate a resolution to remove the Vice-President from office.
Opposition sources revealed that 87 members have already signed the proposal, reflecting growing discontent with what they describe as Dhankhar's "blatantly and consistently partisan" conduct in the Upper House.
According to Article 67(b) of the Constitution, the Vice-President can be removed from office by a resolution passed by a majority of the Rajya Sabha members, followed by approval from the Lok Sabha. However, such a resolution requires a minimum of fourteen days' notice before it can be moved.
A source close to the opposition disclosed that around two days ago, Leader of the House JP Nadda was informally notified of the opposition's intention to submit a motion against Dhankhar. The opposition's grievances include repeated instances of the Leader of Opposition's microphone being turned off and the Chair's refusal to allow the opposition to speak in the House.
On Friday, tensions flared once again, with the Congress accusing Dhankhar of acting in a partisan manner. Following a walkout by opposition members from the Rajya Sabha, the Congress held a press conference where senior leader Ajay Maken criticized the Chairman for not giving the opposition the respect and importance it deserves.
Maken emphasized that the Rajya Sabha, as a model for other legislatures, requires a Chairman who is impartial. He expressed concern that the Chairman's behavior was perceived as biased by all opposition parties, not just the Congress.
Deputy leader of the Congress in Rajya Sabha, Pramod Tiwari, echoed these sentiments, claiming that Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge is frequently interrupted, and his microphones are often switched off. Tiwari also raised concerns about the lack of response to a privilege motion notice submitted by the opposition regarding alleged insulting remarks made by another MP.
Responding to questions about potential actions, Maken stated that all legal and constitutional options remain open for the opposition, as they cannot remain silent while democracy is undermined.
The opposition's walkout, led by Congress parliamentary party leader Sonia Gandhi, followed a heated exchange between Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan and Dhankhar in the Upper House. Bachchan criticized the Chairman's tone, which she found unacceptable, particularly when addressing colleagues.
In response, Dhankhar rebuked Bachchan, asserting that he did not need "schooling" and had gone out of his way to be fair. BJP leader JP Nadda subsequently demanded an apology from the opposition to Dhankhar.
After the walkout, Jaya Bachchan, joined by Sonia Gandhi and other opposition leaders, reiterated her objection to the Chairman's tone and criticized the frequent use of unparliamentary language in the House, particularly when the Leader of Opposition's microphone was turned off.