Cong, BJP agree on consensus for RS dy chairperson post

Both the Congress and the BJP supported the idea of a consensus for the post of deputy chairperson of the Rajya Sabha today, but refused to concede it to either side.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad spoke of a consensus while talking to reporters, but argued in the same breath that the post should go to the UPA. ‘‘None of the three posts of presiding officers — Lok Sabha Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Rajya Sabha Chairman — has come to UPA,’’ he said.

His claim was dismissed by BJP deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha Sushma Swaraj who said: ‘‘This argument that Congress has no presiding officer has no weight’’. ‘‘We gave the post of deputy chairperson to Congress during our six-year rule,’’ she added.

Sushma did not seek the post for the BJP, but the implication of her argument was loud and clear. However, she refused to open her cards, saying: ‘‘Let the Congress talk to us first…We have no proposal from them yet’’.