Page 24 - Rajya Sabha

BJP-led NDA could gain in Rajya Sabha polls to 56 seats on February 27

The strength of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) that it leads, currently at 114, is also set to improve with the return of the Janata Dal (United) to its fold

VP urges assembly speakers to make constitution that carries all amendments

VP Dhankhar also expressed concern over the fact that the general public is clueless about the 22 miniature paintings that are an integral part of the Indian constitution

Time to end new trend of planned obstruction of House proceedings: Om Birla

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Saturday said there is a new trend of obstructing the proceedings in the House in a planned way and the time has come to change it. Addressing the 84th All India Presiding Officers' Conference (AIPOC), Birla said there is enough space to give voice to dissent in a democratic system and, therefore, disruption should not be used as a tool of protest and dissent. "There is a new trend of obstructing the proceedings of the House in a planned way. Time has come to change this," he said, noting that state legislatures, Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha are places for discussion and dialogue. The agenda of the 84th AIPOC is to strengthen people's trust in democratic institutions - the need to maintain discipline and decorum in Parliament and the legislatures of States and UTs; and how to make the committee system more purposeful and effective. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the AIPOC through video message, while 26 presiding officers took part in the inaugural .

Political parties defending those who break rules of House is not good: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said political parties backing members who break the rules of the House and defending their conduct does not augur well for Parliament and state legislatures. In an online address to the 84th All India Presiding Officers' Conference (AIPOC) here, Modi said young elected representatives should be given more opportunity in legislative committees, so that they can participate more in policy-making. "There was a time when, if any member in the House broke the rules and action was taken against that member, senior members of the House would talk to him so that in future he did not repeat the mistake and break the rules of the House. "But these days some political parties stand in support of such members and defend their mistakes. The situation is not good for Parliament or state legislature," Modi said. He also said that work was underway on 'One Nation, One Legislative Platform' through the E-Vidhan and Digital Sansad initiative. In the last te

Will not contest Lok Sabha polls from Balasore, says Ashwini Vaishnaw

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday said he will not contest the Lok Sabha elections from the Balasore seat in Odisha, putting speculations to rest. Speculations were rife that the BJP may field Vaishnaw, a Rajya Sabha MP, in the Balasore seat in the Lok Sabha elections. He was the district collector of Balasore as an IAS officer. "I will not contest from Balasore. We have Pratap 'Nana' here," he told reporters, referring to sitting BJP MP Pratap Sarangi, who is a former Union minister. The speculations were further fuelled by Vaishnaw's extensive visits to various places in Balasore and attending public programmes. He visited the Balasore railway station in the morning, and asked officers to write 'Baleswar', as the place is known in Odia, instead of 'Balasore' in signages. He also visited Jhadheshwar Shiv temple along with Sarangi. He donated an ambulance to the Balasore district hospital, and also went to the AIIMS satellite hospital nearby. Last week, when Vaishnaw vi

With no opposition candidates, AAP candidates to sail unopposed in RS

The AAP's Rajya Sabha nominees in Delhi Swati Maliwal, Sanjay Singh and N D Gupta are set to be elected unopposed as no candidate from any other party has filed nomination, officials said on Friday. The six-year term of AAP MPs Singh, N D Gupta and Sushil Kumar Gupta ends on January 27. While the AAP has renominated Singh and N D Gupta for a second term, it nominated Maliwal, former Delhi Commission for Women chief, to replace Sushil Gupta. "The three candidates are set to be elected unopposed since no other candidate has filed nomination. The results will be announced formally later in the day," an official said. The last date for filing nominations was January 9 while the scrutiny of nominations took place on January 10. The last date for the withdrawal of candidature is January 12.

AAP's RS candidates Maliwal, N D Gupta, Sanjay Singh file nominations

The Aam Aadmi Party's candidates for the January 19 Rajya Sabha elections former Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal, N D Gupta and Sanjay Singh filed their nominations here on Monday, officials said. The six-year term of Sanjay Singh, Sushil Kumar Gupta and N D Gupta ends on January 27. Maliwal's name has been nominated by the party to replace Sushil Gupta. AAP has renominated ND Gupta and jailed party leader Sanjay Singh for their second terms. The officials said Maliwal, ND Gupta and Singh filed their nominations at the Delhi transport commissioner's office in Civil Lines. The election, if necessary, to fill up the three vacancies will be held on January 19. The last date for filing nominations is January 9 while the scrutiny of nominations will take place on January 10. The last date for the withdrawal of candidatures is January 12. Maliwal resigned as the DCW chairperson after AAP fielded her as its Rajya Sabha candidate on Friday.

Court allows jailed Sanjay Singh to visit Returning Officer for RS polls

A court here has allowed AAP leader Sanjay Singh, arrested in a money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi excise scam, to physically visit the returning officer for the Rajya Sabha election in connection with the filing of nomination papers. Special Judge M K Nagpal, who had earlier allowed Singh to sign certain documents related to his re-nomination for Rajya Sabha polls, passed the direction on an application filed by the politician. The judge directed Tihar jail authorities to produce Singh before the returning officer on January 8 and 10 "to enable him to submit his nomination papers in connection with the said election and also for scrutiny thereof". "The accused shall be permitted to remain there till the above process of nomination and scrutiny of the documents is completed," the judge directed in an order passed on January 6. The politician submitted that his present term as a Member of Rajya Sabha is expiring on January 27, 2024, and the returning officer has alrea

Aam Aadmi Party nominates DCW chief Swati Maliwal for Rajya Sabha

Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson Swati Maliwal has been nominated for the first time

AAP leader Sanjay Singh allowed to sign documents for RS renomination

A court here has allowed AAP MP Sanjay Singh, arrested in a money laundering case related to the alleged Delhi excise scam, to sign forms and documents for his Rajya Sabha renomination. Special Judge M K Nagpal passed the order on an application filed by the politician, who submitted that his present term as a member of the Rajya Sabha is expiring on January 27 and the Returning Officer has issued a notice on January 2 for conduct of the election and nominations for the same are to be submitted by January 9. The application sought a direction to the Tihar Jail Superintendent to allow Singh to sign the documents. "It is being directed that if the documents are presented by counsel for accused before jail authorities on January 6, 2024, the jail superintendent shall ensure that the signatures of the accused are permitted to be taken on said documents and he is also permitted to meet his Counsel for half-an-hour to discuss the modalities in connection with filing of the said nomination

68 Rajya Sabha members including nine Union ministers to retire in 2024

Sixty-eight Rajya Sabha members, including nine Union ministers, are completing their tenures this year, triggering a race of sorts among leaders across political parties to eye a six-year term in the Upper House of Parliament. Of the 68 vacancies, elections have already been called for three seats in Delhi where AAP leaders Sanjay Singh, Narain Dass Gupta and Sushil Kumar Gupta will complete their tenures on January 27. Elections have also been called for the lone Rajya Sabha seat in Sikkim where SDF member Hishey Lachungpa will retire on February 23. As many as 57 leaders, including Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav, Health Minister Mansukh Madaviya and former prime minister Manmohan Singh, will complete their tenures in April. Uttar Pradesh will have the highest number of vacancies of 10 seats, followed by Maharashtra and Bihar (six each), Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal (five each), Karnataka and Gujarat

Privileges Panel of Rajya Sabha to meet on January 9, hear 11 suspended MPs

The MPs will continue to remain suspended until their case is considered by the House after receiving the report of the Privileges Committee

Parl delegation led by RS Dy chairman departs for Uganda to attend CSPOC

This conference is held every two years in which the Presiding Officers of more than 30 Commonwealth parliaments discuss issues of common concern and share experiences

Privileges Committees of LS, RS to meet next week, hear suspended MPs

The Privileges Committees of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are scheduled to meet next week, where 14 opposition MPs will be given an opportunity to put across their views over the issue of their suspension for unruly conduct during the recent Winter Session of Parliament. As many as 146 MPs 100 from Lok Sabha and 46 from Rajya Sabha were suspended during the Winter session of Parliament after they brought placards and raised slogans demanding a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah on the issue of breach of Parliament security. Fourteen MPs three from Lok Sabha and 11 from Rajya Sabha were suspended for creating "grave disorder in their respective Houses on December 18 which led to their suspension and their cases being referred to the Privileges Committee. Both Houses resolved that the revocation of suspension of the 14 members was subject to the report of the Privileges Committees of the respective Houses. The Privileges Committee of Rajya Sabha is scheduled to meet on January

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'It is an art form': TMC's Kalyan Banerjee mimics VP Dhankhar again

Videos showed Kalyan Banerjee mimicking Rajya Sabha Chairman Dhankhar during an Opposition protest outside Parliament last Tuesday. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was also seen recording Banerjee's act

Can't meet, out of Delhi: INC chief Kharge's reply to VP Dhankhar's invite

On Sunday, Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar, had invited Mallikarjun Kharge to his residence on December 25 to discuss disruptions in Parliament

Kharge explains inability to meet RS Chairman Dhankhar via letter

Earlier, on December 23, in a letter to Kharge, Dhankhar said the disruptions during the winter session of Parliament which led to the suspension of 146 MPs were 'deliberate and strategised'

A sufferer knows how to withstand from inside, says Dhankhar on mimicry row

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi was pictured videographing the act on his phone even as fellow Opposition members laughed and clapped

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