In a bid to gain votes for JD(U) MP and NDA candidate Harivansh Narayan Singh for the Deputy Chairman post of the Rajya Sabha, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar reached out to Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for their respective parties support in the elections on August 9.
Rao’s office confirmed that JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar called Telangana Rashtra Samithi(TRS) president Chandrashekar Rao and asked for TRS’ support in the Rajya Sabha. Rao assured Kumar that he will discuss the issue with his party stalwarts and then take a final decision, reported PTI.
In a similar move, Bihar CM reached out to BJD chief Naveen Patnaik to request for his party’s support for NDA’s candidate Harivansh Narayan Singh for the post of the Deputy Chairman.
BJD spokesperson Dr Sasmit Patra said, “Naveen Patnaik received a call from Nitish Kumar earlier in the day. Kumar had supported BJD’s nominee for President P A Sangma in 2012. The Bihar Chief Minister now seeks support for the JD(U) party candidate to assume the post of Deputy Chairperson of Rajya Sabha.”
Vandana Chavan of NCP is the opposition’s candidate for the Deputy Chairperson of Rajya Sabha. BJD did not comment on the reports that they were also approached by NCP leader Sharad Pawar and BJP chief Amit Shah. Naveen Patnaik will make a decision by Wednesday morning, reported The Indian Express.
BJD has nine MPs in the Rajya Sabha. The votes of the regional parties like AIADMK, BJD, TRS and YSR Congress is important as BJP-led NDA lacks a majority in the Upper House.
Rajya Sabha has 244 members currently, and to claim a majority, support of 123 members is required.
The post of Deputy Chairperson has been vacant since June after the retirement of Congress MP P J Kurien.