60 Rajya Sabha Members, mainly from the Opposition, have expressed a loss of confidence in Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, and have given notice for a resolution to remove him.
The resolution for his removal is unlikely to be voted on and would be defeated if it were, but the key issue is the trust deficit between the Chairman and the Opposition.
The Opposition accuses Mr. Dhankhar of being partisan, citing his rulings and public statements.
One example is his decision to allow BJP MPs to speak on an adjournment motion he had rejected on Dec 9, which triggered the Opposition's move.
The Opposition also claims that Mr. Dhankhar has repeatedly disallowed the Leader of the Opposition, Mallikarjun Kharge, from speaking and publicly supported government views while criticizing the Opposition.
Typically, positions like the Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman are expected to remain neutral, above the political fray.
However, Mr. Dhankhar’s actions have raised concerns about his impartiality.
The BJP’s increasing attempts to marginalize the Opposition have also fueled the crisis.
The government defends Dhankhar, even linking criticism to accusations of being "anti-India."
If the government and Opposition are at odds and the Chairman cannot mediate impartially, it harms the integrity of Parliament.
A neutral Chair is essential to uphold democracy and ensure the Opposition’s voice is heard.
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