In a setback of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar “declined” the request put forth by Arvind Kejriwal, looking for the appointment of Raghav Chadha as the interim party leader in the Upper House, as per Parliament sources. Aam Aadmi Party sources, nevertheless, claimed Rajya Sabha officers have advisable some corrections in the letter despatched to the Chairman for nominating Chadha as “interim leader” and the identical could be considered.
According to sources in parliament, in a letter to AAP nationwide convener Arvind Kejriwal, Dhankhar stated, “This aspect is subject to ‘The Leaders and Chief Whips of Recognised Parties and Groups in Parliament (Facilities) Act 1998 and the Rules made thereunder. The request, not being in conformity to the applicable legal regime, is not being acceded to.”
AAP wrote to Dhankhar
Earlier on December 14, the request was made by the AAP nationwide convener for the appointment of Chadha in lace of party MP Sanjay Singh, who’s at present in judicial custody in a cash laundering case. In the letter to Dhankhar Kejriwal had written: “I would like to propose the name of Raghav Chadha as the interim party leader in the Rajya Sabha until further changes are deemed necessary. We request that this change be allowed as per the rules and procedures of the Rajya Sabha.”
No provision for interim leader
Under The Leaders and Chief Whips of Recognised Parties and Groups in Parliament (Facilities) Act, referred to by Dhankhar in his letter to Kejriwal, there isn’t any provision of an ‘interim leader’. With Dhankhar turning down Kejriwal’s request citing guidelines, Singh continues to stay the leader of the AAP in the Rajya Sabha. However, Singh’s time period as the Rajya Sabha member expires on January 27.
Sanjay Singh in judicial custody
Notably, Singh is in judicial custody until January 10. The AAP MP had been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in its cash laundering probe into the Delhi excise coverage case. Singh was arrested by the central probe company on October 4. He is at present in judicial custody in Delhi’s Tihar jail.
(With PTI inputs)
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