RS Deputy Chairman be elected through consensus: Goel

The government said on Tuesday that election to the post of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman will take place in the monsoon session of Parliament if a consensus emerges on the name of the candidate.

"Our effort is that the election for Deputy Chairman takes place through consensus. If there is consensus, it will take place in this very session," Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel told reporters here after an all-party meeting.

His comments came amid indications that the government may not go for the election in the monsoon session.

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Naresh Gujral, whose name was doing the rounds as a possible National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate, said on Tuesday that he is not in the race.

Gujral said the next Deputy Chairman should be elected unanimously. There was a possibility that he may be supported by some non-NDA parties too.

The post of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman fell vacant after P.J. Kurien retired this month.

Opposition parties have decided to take a collective decision on the election.

--IANS

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