RS deputy chairperson is next on Congress agenda

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-family:="" arial="">NEW DELHI: Now that the UPA government has presented both the railway and Union budgets, its attention, sources say, will be focussed on the election of the deputy chairperson of the Rajya Sabha — a test of both strength and diplomacy — and, thereafter, on cabinet expansion.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="">Initially, it looked as though there would be a Congress-BJP standoff on the issue, even as both parties talked of consensus.Now, the Samajwadi Party, which belongs in neither ruling nor opposition camp, is pushing for its own candidate, veteran socialist Janeshwar Mishra. If the SP goes through with this, the hostility between Congress and SP is likely to increase, and BJP could decide to back SP candidate in an attempt to defeat the Congress nominee.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="">Congress feels the job should go to it as the other three posts — Lok Sabha Speaker and deputy Speaker as well as that of Rajya Sabha chairperson — are with non-Congress representatives. BJP''s contention is that the deputies'' posts in both Houses of Parliament has traditionally gone to the opposition. Since Lok Sabha deputy speaker Atwal is from the Akali Dal, the RS deputy chairperson should be from the BJP.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="">With no break in the deadlock, BJP is considering whether backing an SP candidate won''t serve its purpose. For one, it would be simpler than getting the SP to back its candidate, as that would confirm speculation that the SP is hand in glove with BJP.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="">Congress now feels that whether both the BJP and SP put up individual candidates or one candidate, the only way out politically is to push forward a Muslim candidate. Initially, the two names being mentioned were those of CWC member Mohsina Kidwai and Saifuddin Soz. But now, highly placed sources say, the Congress leadership feels the job needs to go to someone with more experience. The name emerging is that of Union power minister and former LS deputy speaker P M Sayeed, even though it would be a step down as the RS deputy chairperson holds MoS rank.</span></div> </div>