Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Shiv Sena, allies of the Bharatiya Janata Party may abstain from voting on Thursday for the post of the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, as per the News18 report.
These allies are discontent with BJP for supporting the nomination of JD(U) Member of Parliament Harivansh Narayan Singh for the post, reported FirstPost.
SAD leaders held a meeting at the residence of their party President Sukhbir Badal in Delhi and came to this decision. The core committee will meet at 10 am on Tuesday, reported The Hindu.
SAD has three MPs in the Upper House and according to the reports, the party is upset because it wanted to project its MP Naresh Gujral for the Deputy Chairman post.
The party is upset for being “ignored” and is disgruntled at NDA’s selection of first time Parliamentarian Harivansh Narayan Singh who could not gather enough votes for even Public Accounts Committee seat, the Deccan Herald reported.
Shiv Sena has been openly showing its dissatisfaction with the BJP and abstained from voting in the no-confidence motion. In another move of defiance, the party which has three MPs in Rajya Sabha might not be a part of the elections.
On Monday, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu declared that the elections will be held at 11 am on 9 August. The nomination papers have to filed before noon on 8 August. He suggested to elect the Deputy Chairman by consensus, reported FirstPost.
P J Kurien, Congress MP retired in June from the post of the Deputy Chairman and since then the post has been vacant.