Rajya Sabha deputy chairperson Najma Heptulla is all set to get a Presidential nomination to the Upper House. Highly placed sources confirmed to The Indian Express that her file had gone to Rashtrapati Bhavan for the President’s signature and an announcement was expected any day now. xPresidential nominations for seven Rajya Sabha MPs had been made some weeks ago but the eighth seat was left vacant. She is expected to resign as House deputy chairperson at the end of the winter session of Parliament and seek re-election. Najma’s nomination could be an indication that the Government is seriously considering holding early polls to the Lok Sabha. Najma’s Rajya Sabha term comes to an end in June 2004 and there is no immediate urgency for her to get re-elected. She could afford to wait until the middle of next year.But were the Government to go in for early elections, it would be difficult to go for a Presidential nomination once the poll announcement has been made and the Code of Conduct comes into play. Najma would naturally not want to take chances. In addition to the NDA, Najma is reported to have sought the support of regional parties like RJD, SP, NCP, Left and smaller groups. Sources said she may get support of most parties other than the Congress. Being a Muslim and a woman, and a Rajya Sabha deputy chairperson for three terms, and elevated to a prestigious position in the Inter Parliamentary Union, she should have no trouble getting re-elected. But this would be the first time that a ‘nominated’ member would be making a bid for the post of the deputy chairperson. Although elected on the Congress ticket last time from Maharashtra, there was uncertainty about her being repeated in 2004, given the way her relations with Sonia Gandhi have nosedived in recent months. She has, however, struck a rapport with Prime Minister Vajpayee, his deputy L K Advani and Finance Minister Jaswant Singh. All of them are believed to be backing her candidature as a nominated Rajya Sabha member. She was made head of the ICCR last year, in preference to Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, and enjoys Cabinet rank. Normally Vice Presidents have held that position, but in this instance shs pipped Shekhawat to the post, even though he is a BJP veteran and is considered close to the Prime Minister. When she walked out of the Rajya Sabha last week in anger against a remark made by Congress MP Kapil Sibal, she underscored the point that her own party was not treating her properly. The walkout was unprecedented for a deputy chairperson and very uncharacteristic of her because she has seen — and dealt with — worse behaviour without getting rattled.
