Jagdeep Dhankhar / No-confidence motion will be defeated- Why did the opposition do this against Dhankhar?

Jagdeep Dhankhar: For the first time in the Rajya Sabha, the opposition has given a notice of no-confidence motion against the Chairman. This move highlights the disagreement and resentment of the opposition parties towards Jagdeep Dhankhar. This historic development has given rise to a new debate in the political and constitutional discourse of the country.

Constitutional process of no-confidence motion

The process of removing the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, who is also the Vice President, is governed under Article 67 (a) of the Constitution. At least 50 MPs' signatures are required to bring this motion. The motion is submitted to the Secretary General of the Rajya Sabha, after which it is presented in the House for debate and voting.

After the motion is passed in the Rajya Sabha, it is sent to the Lok Sabha, where the same procedure is followed. If the motion is passed by a simple majority in both the Houses, the Chairman has to resign.

Political mathematics of Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha

According to the political scenario, it is clear that it is almost impossible for the opposition to remove Jagdeep Dhankhar from the post.

NDA dominance in Rajya Sabha: The majority figure in the 245-member Rajya Sabha is 123. The NDA currently has the support of 125 members. Parties like BJD and YSR Congress are considered to be in favor of the NDA.

Lok Sabha scenario: The NDA has 293 MPs in the 543-member Lok Sabha, while the opposition India Alliance stands at 249. The support of 272 MPs required for a majority is a distant dream for the opposition.

Objective of the no-confidence motion

The main objective of this motion is not to remove Dhankhar from the post, but to give a political and symbolic message.

Platform for debate in the House: The opposition has not got a chance to discuss major issues in the winter session of Parliament. During the debate on the no-confidence motion, the opposition can put forward its point openly. During the debate against Dhankhar, they can highlight controversial issues like Adani, which were out of discussion till now.

Symbolic protest: This motion is the first in the history of the Rajya Sabha, due to which the opposition's protest will be recorded. The opposition has long been accusing Dhankhar of biased attitude towards the ruling party. With this move, the opposition is historically marking its disagreement.

Opposition's dissatisfaction with Dhankhar

Jagdeep Dhankhar had promised impartiality after assuming the post of Speaker. But the opposition alleges that he did not give enough opportunity to the opposition leaders to speak. Senior leaders like Mallikarjun Kharge are also dissatisfied with his attitude.

Impact on future politics

Although this move of the opposition does not seem to be successful in political mathematics, it is an important attempt to challenge the ruling party in both the houses of Parliament.

This move strengthens the demand for democratic processes and accountability of power within the Parliament. The no-confidence motion may not be successful, but it can become a symbol of the strategy and show of strength of the opposition.