New Delhi, December 10:
On Tuesday, opposition parties collectively submitted a notice to initiate a motion seeking the removal of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. The action comes amid allegations of partiality in conducting proceedings within the Rajya Sabha, where he serves as ex-officio chairman.
The notice was officially submitted by Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Naseer Hussain to Rajya Sabha Secretary General P C Mody.
Sources revealed that approximately 60 opposition MPs, including members from parties like Congress, RJD, TMC, CPI, CPI-M, JMM, AAP, and DMK, have signed the notice. However, it is noted that senior Congress leaders holding constitutional posts have refrained from signing. Among those not listed as signatories are Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, and various floor leaders of opposition parties.
The motion stems from growing tensions between the Rajya Sabha chairman and opposition members over his handling of the Upper House’s proceedings.
Jairam Ramesh, Congress General Secretary (In-charge of Communications), explained the INDIA bloc’s stance in a post on X:
“ALL parties belonging to the INDIA group have had no option but to formally submit a no-confidence motion against the learned Hon’ble Chairman of the Rajya Sabha for the extremely partisan manner in which he has been conducting the proceedings of the Council of States. It has been a very painful decision for the INDIA parties to take, but in the interests of parliamentary democracy they have had to take this step.”
TMC MP and Deputy Leader in Rajya Sabha Sagarika Ghose echoed this sentiment, stating:
“Signed by all and being moved today against Vice President. We do not have the numbers to win, but it is a strong message to fight for parliamentary democracy. Nothing against individuals, this is a fight for institutions.”
Opposition discontent with Dhankhar has escalated over various incidents, most recently his decision to permit treasury bench members to raise the Cong-Soros “link” issue in the Rajya Sabha.
The Constitution stipulates that a motion to remove the vice president requires a minimum of 50 members’ support to be introduced.
Congress MP Digvijaya Singh has also publicly criticized the Rajya Sabha chairman for perceived partiality in his role.
In August of this year, the INDIA bloc had previously considered submitting a similar notice for Dhankhar’s removal.
As per Article 67(b) of the Constitution:
“Vice-President may be removed from his office by a resolution of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) passed by a majority of all the then members of the Council and agreed to by the House of the People; but no resolution for the purpose of this clause shall be moved unless at least fourteen days’ notice has been given of the intention to move the resolution.”
This motion underscores the ongoing clash between the opposition and the vice president, highlighting the INDIA bloc’s resolve to push back against what they view as a threat to parliamentary democracy.
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