BHUBANESWAR: The
Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Wednesday said the party is yet to decide its stand on the election for the post of
Rajya Sabha deputy chairman. After Congress party’s decision to back Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate for the post, BJD’s support is crucial for winning the election for an anti-BJP alliance. Opposition parties hinted at Trinammol Congress’s Sukhendu Sekhar Roy as the likely candidate for the post.
Rajya Sabha member and BJD spokesperson Pratap Deb said, “BJD is yet to decide on its stand for the deputy chairman’s post in the upper house of the parliament. Party president will take the decision at appropriate time before the elections.”
The post of Rajya Sabha deputy chairman has become vacant after the The election for the term of P J Kurien’s ended this month. The election for the post will be held during the monsoon session of the parliament scheduled to begin from July 18.
Speculations are rife over BJD president Naveen Patnaik’s decision as Naveen had earlier emphasised on maintaining equidistance from both the Congress and the BJP. “It is unlikely that
Naveen Patnaik will change his stand of maintaining equal distance from both the BJP and the Congress with general elections are around the corner,” said a senior BJD leader requesting anonymity.
The BJD has nine members in the Rajya Sabha. A party would require 122 votes to win the deputy chairman election in the House with a total member of 245. The BJP has 67 members, and the Congress 51 in the House.
Election for the Rajya Sabha deputy chairman post will be held after 26 years. The last election was held in 1992.