Rajya Sabha to begin debate on Constitution on Monday amid no-confidence motion row

New Delhi: Rajya Sabha will start its two-day debate on the Constitution on Monday against the backdrop of growing unease between Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar and the Opposition who is seeking his removal accusing him of partisanship.

Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to reply to the discussions on Tuesday, in indications that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is unlikely to intervene in the Upper House. Modi has replied to the debate in Lok Sabha on Saturday.

Earlier, there were reports that Shah would initiate the debate but he will be in Chhattisgarh’s Jagdalpur where he is holding a security review meeting.

While BJP is fielding senior Ministers J P Nadda (who is also the Leader of the House), Nirmala Sitharaman, Bhupendra Yadav, and Hardeep Puri along with four MPs, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge will be the opening debater from the Opposition side. Sitharaman is likely to initiate the debate.

DMK’s Tiruchi Siva, Samajwadi Party’s Ramgopal Yadav, RJD’s Manoj K Jha and independent MP Kapil Sibal would be the main speakers from the Opposition side. BJD will have five MPs while JD(U) will field its working president Sanjay Jha for the debate.

Sources said Trinamool Congress is likely to field 10-11 MPs during the debate dividing their allotted to talk 3-4 minutes each about the themes like justice, political equality, We The People, republic, socialist, secular, democratic and sovereignty. 

They project it as an attempt to portray their party’s diversity. It is to be seen whether senior MP Sukhendu Shekhar Roy would be speaking as he is at loggerheads with the party leadership over RG Kar protests.

With Lok Sabha managing to conclude the debate without major disruptions, the two-day debate in the Upper House is keenly watched especially with NDA on one side and the Opposition on the other following the submission of notice to remove Dhankhar as Vice President. 

On Friday, both Dhankhar and Kharge engaged in a war of words over the issue. Last week witnessed adjournments over the Adani and Soros issues as well as the no-trust notice against Dhankhar.

Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha floor leader Derek O’Brien said, “We want Parliament to run, we want to raise issues affecting people. If BJP does not disrupt Parliament again, we will take up the debate on the Constitution and expose them,” he said.

While the BJP seeks to corner the Congress over Emergency and other issues, the Opposition would try to put the ruling side on the backfoot over Adani issue, Manipur, Sambhal violence, price rise, unemployment and capturing of institutions.

The Opposition narrative is also likely to reflect on the running of the House.