<p class="title">Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu made a strong pitch for consensus in electing next deputy chairman for the Upper House after incumbent P J Kurien completed his tenure on Sunday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Speaking at a farewell function organised in the honour of Kurien, Naidu said he had spoken to leaders of both the ruling BJP and the Opposition parties and suggested to nominate a consensus candidate for the coveted post.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Trinamool Congress leader Sukhendy Shekhar Roy is considered as the front-runner as the Opposition nominee for the post, while the BJP is yet to open its cards.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“I hope the ruling and the Opposition parties will find a suitable replacement with consensus for Prof Kurien as the election of new deputy chairperson will be held soon,” Naidu said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Naidu hailed 77-year-old Kurien as a “valued colleague” who would be missed in the Rajya Sabha.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“He conducted the proceedings with passion and energy, always urging the members to build consensus for effective Parliamentary functioning. He is an expert in tackling difficult situations,” Naidu said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The farewell function for Kurien was attended by leaders cutting across party lines including Ghulam Nabi Azad (Congress), D Raja (CPI), Manish Gupta (Trinamool Congress), A Navaneethakrishnan and S R Balasubramaniyan (AIADMK)and Union Ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad, Piyush Goyal and Vijay Goel.</p>
<p class="title">Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu made a strong pitch for consensus in electing next deputy chairman for the Upper House after incumbent P J Kurien completed his tenure on Sunday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Speaking at a farewell function organised in the honour of Kurien, Naidu said he had spoken to leaders of both the ruling BJP and the Opposition parties and suggested to nominate a consensus candidate for the coveted post.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Trinamool Congress leader Sukhendy Shekhar Roy is considered as the front-runner as the Opposition nominee for the post, while the BJP is yet to open its cards.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“I hope the ruling and the Opposition parties will find a suitable replacement with consensus for Prof Kurien as the election of new deputy chairperson will be held soon,” Naidu said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Naidu hailed 77-year-old Kurien as a “valued colleague” who would be missed in the Rajya Sabha.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“He conducted the proceedings with passion and energy, always urging the members to build consensus for effective Parliamentary functioning. He is an expert in tackling difficult situations,” Naidu said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The farewell function for Kurien was attended by leaders cutting across party lines including Ghulam Nabi Azad (Congress), D Raja (CPI), Manish Gupta (Trinamool Congress), A Navaneethakrishnan and S R Balasubramaniyan (AIADMK)and Union Ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad, Piyush Goyal and Vijay Goel.</p>
