TDP CM Ramesh wins PAC election in RS

Ahead of the election to the deputy-chairman’s post on August 9, Opposition’s candidate, Telugu Desam Party’s (TDP) CM Ramesh,  comfortably made it to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Rajya Sabha on Monday.

Ramesh got the highest number of votes, 106, while BJP’s Bhupender Yadav also made it with 69 votes. Interestingly, Harivansh of the Janata Dal-United (JD-U), who was also fielded as a NDA (National Democratic Alliance) candidate, lost badly getting just 26 votes. His loss assumes significance since he is likely to be the NDA candidate for the Rajya Sabha deputy-chairman’s post.

It is also an important victory of the Opposition against the ruling BJP which has consolidated its position in the upper house over the last one year, emerging as the largest block in the house of elders.

Balloting was held to fill two vacancies in the PAC from the Upper House.

The opposition celebrated its little victory, terming it as a “blow” to the ruling dispensation and as a sign of unity by the opposition.

“It was the BJP, particularly its chief Amit Shah, who insisted on an election. We had tried to persuade the BJP that one MP each from the ruling and opposition camps can be named against the two vacancies and an election should be normally avoided. But he insisted on a contest. So here is the result,” a senior opposition leader who did not wish to be named commented. Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien took to Twitter to celebrate the opposition’s unity.