Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP and chief party spokesperson Sanjay Raut has claimed that the BJP-led NDA is not confident about securing a majority for its vice presidential candidate CP Radhakrishnan, which is why it has begun to contact Opposition parties.
“Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Devendra Fadnavis called Uddhav Thackeray, requesting him to vote (for CP Radhakrishnan). Singh must have requested other parties to do the same. When you (the NDA) have a majority, why do you need support from the Opposition? It is a clear indication that the NDA’s position is not as strong as it is trying to show,” Sanjay Raut told media persons.
The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP have nine and eight MPs respectively in the Lok Sabha, besides two MPs each in the Rajya Sabha.
The election for the post of Vice President is scheduled to be held on September 9. The NDA has nominated CP Radhakrishnan for the vice presidential election while the opposition Congress-led INDIA bloc which includes the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, has fielded former Supreme Court judge, Justice B Sudarshan Reddy as its candidate.
If Radhakrishnan is elected as the vice president of India, he would become the second Maharashtra governor to occupy the second biggest constitutional post of India after Shankar Dayal Sharma, who went on to become the president of India.
Talking to media persons, Raut raised questions about Radhakrishnan’s actions while he was the governor of Jharkhand. “When Radhakrishnan was the governor of Jharkhand, Chief Minister Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) from the Raj Bhavan itself. This action was against constitutional traditions. Radhakrishnan did not stop ED officials at that time nor did he play his role within constitutional limits,” he pointed out.
“The Opposition’s fight is not for only a post, but it is a fight to save democracy. Our fight is against dictatorship. The Opposition is standing against dictatorial tendencies and the forces supporting it,” Raut said.
Sanjay Raut also lashed out against the Bills introduced by the Central government, which have the provisions to remove the prime minister, chief minister or minister from the post if they are arrested for 30 days in serious criminal cases. Raut said such laws are an attempt to scare and apply pressure on governments led by opposition parties.
“If this law is implemented, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and many (Shinde-led) Shiv Sena ministers will be forced to go to jail every day. How much morality has the BJP shown in the last 10 years? This is a sign of dictatorship. Opposition parties opposed these bills in Parliament,” Sanjay Raut said.