PATNA: RJD national vice-president and former chief minister Rabri Devi is all set to lose the position of the leader of opposition in the 75 member Upper House because five of her MLCs have deserted and joined the ruling JD (U).
RJD had earlier eight members in the council and with five of them leaving the party and joining JD (U), it is left with just three. An official in vidhan parishad said that as per the Constitution, a party needs to have 10% strength for having an opposition leader. “In case it does not fulfil the strength, it depends on the government and the chairperson to make a decision,” said the official.
Eyeing on this opportunity, JD (U) state spokesperson Arvind Nishad said, “In case of Vidhan Parishad which has total strength of 75, at least eight members are needed. But RJD is now left with only three. Even after its three more members come to the House, it will still be short of required strength.” But at the same time he reminded of somewhat similar situation in 2010 in Vidhan Sabha when the party did not have 10% strength, still was allowed to have opposition leader. “ Even though the RJD had just 22 members then, our government under our chief minister Nitish Kumar allowed Abdul Bari Siddiqui to hold the position of opposition leader,” said Nishad.
When asked what the party has planned now, he replied, “This will be decided by senior party leaders. It is too early to talk on this issue.”
Bihar Vidhan Parishad acting chairperson Awadhesh Naraian Singh also denied commenting on this issue.
Five former RJD MLCs, who formed a separate group and joined the ruling JD(U) include Sanjay Prasad, Radha Charan Sah, Dillip Rai, Qamar Alam and Ranvijay Kumar Singh.
Now as per the new calculation, RJD is left with only three members, JDU which had 15 members, now has 20 Councillors in the Upper House. BJP has 17 members, Congress two, LJP and HAM (S) one each and two are independents. As of now, 29 seats are vacant in the Upper House.
RJD had earlier eight members in the council and with five of them leaving the party and joining JD (U), it is left with just three. An official in vidhan parishad said that as per the Constitution, a party needs to have 10% strength for having an opposition leader. “In case it does not fulfil the strength, it depends on the government and the chairperson to make a decision,” said the official.
Eyeing on this opportunity, JD (U) state spokesperson Arvind Nishad said, “In case of Vidhan Parishad which has total strength of 75, at least eight members are needed. But RJD is now left with only three. Even after its three more members come to the House, it will still be short of required strength.” But at the same time he reminded of somewhat similar situation in 2010 in Vidhan Sabha when the party did not have 10% strength, still was allowed to have opposition leader. “ Even though the RJD had just 22 members then, our government under our chief minister Nitish Kumar allowed Abdul Bari Siddiqui to hold the position of opposition leader,” said Nishad.
When asked what the party has planned now, he replied, “This will be decided by senior party leaders. It is too early to talk on this issue.”
Bihar Vidhan Parishad acting chairperson Awadhesh Naraian Singh also denied commenting on this issue.
Five former RJD MLCs, who formed a separate group and joined the ruling JD(U) include Sanjay Prasad, Radha Charan Sah, Dillip Rai, Qamar Alam and Ranvijay Kumar Singh.
Now as per the new calculation, RJD is left with only three members, JDU which had 15 members, now has 20 Councillors in the Upper House. BJP has 17 members, Congress two, LJP and HAM (S) one each and two are independents. As of now, 29 seats are vacant in the Upper House.
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