New Delhi: For the first time in the history of Indian parliament, the Opposition parties have submitted a notice in the Upper House to remove its chairman Mr Jagdeep Dhankar, for his “partisan conduct in his role as the Rajya Sabha chairman.” Mr Dhankar is serving Vice-President of India.
The present move from the opposition is the aftermath of the ever escalating friction between the Opposition and the Chair, ever since Mr Dhankar assumed the office. The Opposition has been consistently accusing Mr Dhankar favouring the ruling BJP during parliamentary proceedings.
The vice-president of India, as the ex-officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha, plays a pivotal role in ensuring impartiality and fairness in the Upper House’s proceedings.
However, Dhankhar’s tenure has been marred by repeated allegations of bias. 60 opposition MPs from the INDIA bloc (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance), have openly expressed their discontent over his style of functioning, and signed the notice.
Recently, Dhankhar permitted the ruling BJP members members to raise slogans in the House against Sonia Gandhi, alleging Congress-George Soros “link,” which the Opposition viewed as a clear deviation from established norms of impartiality.
Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Naseer Hussain submitted the motion to Rajya Sabha secretary general P.C. Mody, with signatures from around 60 MPs across opposition parties. Notably, senior Congress leaders holding constitutional positions, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia Gandhi, abstained from signing the notice.
Explaining the rationale behind the notice to remove Dhankar from the Chair, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh stated on X: “All parties belonging to the INDIA group have had no option but to formally submit a no-confidence motion… It has been a very painful decision… but in the interests of parliamentary democracy, they have had to take this step.”
ALL parties belonging to the INDIA group have had no option but to formally submit a no-confidence motion against the learned Hon’ble Chairman of the Rajya Sabha for the extremely partisan manner in which he has been conducting the proceedings of the Council of States.
TMC Member in the Upper House Sagarika Ghose added, “We do not have the numbers to win, but it is a strong message to fight for parliamentary democracy. Nothing against individuals; this is a fight for institutions.”
According to Article 67(b) of the Constitution, a vice president of India can be removed by a resolution passed by a majority of all the members of the Rajya Sabha and agreed to by the Lok Sabha. A minimum of 50 MPs is required to initiate such a motion, along with a 14-day notice period before the resolution is tabled.
The Opposition move, though largely symbolic given their lack of numbers in Parliament, underscores growing concerns about the erosion of democratic norms and the perceived politicization of key constitutional offices. It also reflects the INDIA bloc’s strategy to maintain pressure on the ruling BJP and its allies by highlighting institutional transgressions.
This motion is reminiscent of earlier instances when opposition parties have taken principled stands. As the motion progresses, it is likely to stir debates about the role and neutrality of constitutional authorities in a deeply polarised political environment.
