New Delhi: BK Hariprasad of the Indian National Congress is party’s candidate for the post of Rajya Sabha deputy chairperson, said sources.
The elections will be held on the second last day of the monsoon session of Parliament– on August 9.
Until now, the name of Nationalist Congress Party’s Vandana Chavan was being flagged as opposition’s consensus candidate for the post.
Reportedly, Bahujan Samaj Party’s (BSP) Satish Mishra and Trinamool Congress’ Derek o Brien proposed Chavan’s name.
The post of the deputy chairman has been lying vacant since June 2018 after the retirement of Congress leader PJ Kurien. At the farewell of Kurien, Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu had urged the ruling and opposition parties to find a suitable replacement for the post.
Meanwhile, Janata Dal (United) leader Harivansh Narayan Singh is likely to be the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) candidate for the post.
Earlier on Monday, Naidu suggested that the deputy chairman should be elected by consensus. The nomination papers will have to be filed before noon on August 8. (ANI)