Union minister Piyush Goyal appointed as new leader of house in Rajya Sabha

New Delhi: Union Minister Piyush Goyal, who is currently the deputy floor leader for Rajya Sabha, will be the Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha for the Bharatiya Janata Party. The post has been vacant since the resignation of senior leader Thawarchand Gehlot who is now the governor of Karnataka.

Goyal will take the place of Thawarchand Gehlot in the coming monsoon session starting from July 19.

On Sunday, Gehlot took oath as the new governor of Karnataka. Congratulating Goyal through a tweet, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Prahlad Joshi said, "Congratulations to Piyush Goyal Ji on being appointed the Leader of House in Rajya Sabha. He has been entrusted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji with key responsibility. Wishing him continued vigour in the service to the nation."

Goyal, Rajya Sabha member from Maharashtra, was first elected to the upper house of parliament in August 2010. Goyal holds key portfolios of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs and Food, and Public Distribution and Textiles in the union government.

As a senior parliamentarian, Goyal has been an effective floor manager, including during the passage of crucial bills such as Triple Talaq and Article 370.

Goyal also shares an excellent rapport with people from the state and also other leaders in the Opposition. He was also the railway minister and currently occupies three portfolios -Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs and Food and Public Distribution and Textiles.

Earlier, he has served as Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy between 2014 and 2017, and Mines during 2016-2017.