Oppn submits notice of no-confidence motion against RS chair Jagdeep Dhankhar

The Opposition bloc, led by the Congress, on Tuesday, 10 December, submitted a formal notice to move a no-confidence motion against vice- president Jagdeep Dhankhar, alleging partisan conduct in his role as the Rajya Sabha chairman.

This marks a significant escalation in the friction between the opposition and Dhankhar, who has often been accused of favouring the ruling party 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 expressed dissatisfaction over his style of functioning, and signed the notice.

Recently, Dhankhar allowed treasury bench members to raise slogans, 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 move, 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."

TMC MP 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's decision, 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.