Rajya Sabha Chairperson, Jagdeep Dhankhar, has declined the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) request to designate MP Raghav Chadha as the interim leader in the Upper House, aiming to replace Sanjay Singh, currently in judicial custody due to the Delhi liquor scam case. AAP National Convener, Arvind Kejriwal, proposed Chadha’s name on December 14, but the request was rejected, citing the absence of provisions for appointing an interim leader under the Leaders and Chief Whips of Recognised Parties and Groups in Parliament (Facilities) Act, 1998.
Dhankhar, in his letter to Kejriwal, 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.”
The Act primarily deals with providing facilities to leaders and chief whips of recognized parties and groups in Parliament. It outlines that a “recognized group” must have a strength of not less than 15 members and not more than 24 members in the Rajya Sabha, and a strength of not less than 30 members and not more than 54 members in the Lok Sabha. Similarly, a “recognized party” must have a strength of not less than 25 members in the Rajya Sabha and not less than 55 members in the Lok Sabha.
Regarding facilities, the Act states, “Each leader, deputy leader, and each chief whip of a recognized group and a recognized party shall be entitled to telephone and secretarial facilities.”
AAP sources claim that the Upper House secretariat sought clarifications, while sources in the secretariat deny having requested any clarifications. AAP maintains that the request hasn’t been denied but that “some corrections were sought, which will be addressed.” With Dhankhar citing rules and rejecting Kejriwal’s request, Sanjay Singh continues as the leader of the AAP in the Rajya Sabha.
