Opposition Unity was reaffirmed in RS: Chidambaram

In the wake of the United Progressive Alliance's (UPA) defeat in the election for the post of deputy chairman of the Rajya Sabha, former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on Thursday said that the opposition's unity in the house was reaffirmed.

Taking to his Twitter handle, Chidambaram said, "Opposition Unity was reaffirmed in Rajya Sabha today. All 105 Opposition MPs stood together."

He also came down heavily on the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) for voting for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate, saying, "BJD is shooting itself in the foot by voting for the NDA candidate when NDA has declared its goal is to defeat Naveen Patnaik's party!"

"The margin was only 20 votes. If the BJD had acted as a true Opposition party, the result would have been different," Chidambaram added.

He also aimed a potshot at the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), saying, "As far as AIADMK is concerned, it is known to the people of Tamilnadu that it is a puppet and the puppeteer is the BJP."

Earlier today, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi said that the defeat should not be perceived as lack of unity in the Opposition.

NDA candidate Harivansh Narayan Singh was announced as the new Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

Harivansh Narayan Singh polled 125 votes out of 332, whereas Congress candidate B. K. Hariprasad bagged 105 votes. Two members of the Aam Aadmi Party abstained from voting.

Shortly after the announcement of the winner, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other members of the House walked up to the newly elected deputy chairman and extended their congratulations.

The post of the Deputy Chairman has been lying vacant since June 2018 after the retirement of Congress leader P. J. Kurien.