TMC MP Calls for Transparent Rajya Sabha Proceedings Under New VP
Derek O'Brien urges fair, transparent Rajya Sabha proceedings.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Derek O'Brien has called on India’s newly elected Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairperson, C P Radhakrishnan, to ensure a fair and transparent parliamentary process by accepting opposition notices, avoiding censorship, and curbing mass suspensions. In a detailed blogpost on Wednesday, O'Brien outlined eight key suggestions for Radhakrishnan, who secured 452 votes against opposition nominee B Sudershan Reddy’s 300 in Tuesday’s election, amid reports of cross-voting in his favor.
O'Brien emphasized the importance of Rule 267, which allows MPs to suspend regular business for urgent discussions, noting that no such discussions were permitted under former chairpersons Venkaiah Naidu and Jagdeep Dhankar from 2017 to 2024. “Between 2009 and 2016, 110 notices were admitted for discussion, but this dropped to just 36 in the last eight years,” he said, urging Radhakrishnan to reverse this trend and prioritize opposition voices. He also condemned the suspension of 146 MPs in December 2023, calling it a “dubious record” compared to 50 suspensions during the UPA’s decade-long tenure.
The TMC leader criticized the selective coverage by Sansad TV, which he claimed focuses solely on Treasury Benches while ignoring opposition protests. “Is it fair that cameras and edits censor opposition visuals?” O'Brien asked, demanding unbiased broadcasting of parliamentary proceedings. He further advocated for more bills to be sent to parliamentary committees for scrutiny, noting a sharp decline from seven out of ten bills in the 15th Lok Sabha to just two out of ten in the 17th Lok Sabha. “Committee scrutiny improves legislation quality by involving experts and stakeholders,” he argued.
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O'Brien also called for experienced MPs to be appointed to the panel of vice chairpersons after informal consultation with their parties, and for points of order and voting on bills to be allowed when requested. He suggested eliminating birthday greetings to save time for critical business. As Radhakrishnan steps into his dual role, O'Brien’s suggestions set the stage for a heated debate on parliamentary fairness and the role of the opposition in India’s democracy.
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