Finding a consensus candidate for the post of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman, passing several key legislations, and ratifying Ordinances seem to be the priority of the Centre and the BJP in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament. The session will begin on July 18.
The Centre has reached out to opposition parties with a list of legislations to be passed in the session. However, there has been was no commitment from the Opposition, which is working on the possibility for bringing a no-confidence motion against the Centre in the Lok Sabha. On the election of the Deputy Chairman, the Opposition is unlikely to accept the BJP’s choice and are keen to find a joint candidate from among their ranks.
On Sunday, leaders of various parties in the Rajya Sabha attended a dinner meeting hosted by Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu to honour PJ Kurien, who retired as his deputy on Monday. Though the issue of the Deputy Chairman’s election did not come up for discussions, Naidu said the ruling and opposition parties should build a consensus on a name. “I hope the ruling and the opposition parties will find a suitable replacement with consensus for PJ Kurien as the election of new Deputy Chairperson will be held soon,” he said. Naidu added that he had spoken to leaders from both sides and asked them to nominate a consensus candidate for the post.
Elections to most of the vacant posts are over and some members are likely to take oath when the House meets. “The numbers on each side will be revealed only after the swearing-in,” a leader from the Opposition said.
Indications are that the elections will be held only in the second week of the session. The Centre’s priority is to get the legislations passed — 68 bills are pending in the Lok Sabha and 40 in the Rajya Sabha. Six Ordinances, including the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Ordinance, are to be replaced by Parliament. The Centre also wishes to get the Muslim Marriage (Protection of Marriage Rights) Bill, the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill and the Bill to constitute an OBC Commission passed.