After hectic consultations for two days, senior Congress MP B K Hariprasad was chosen as the joint Opposition candidate for the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman elections scheduled for Thursday. He filed the nomination on Wednesday morning. On his behalf, five sets of motions were placed by the Opposition, including NCP and TDP. Hariprasad and the joint Opposition is confident that they will win the election though the numbers are too close. Hariprasad, who hails from Karnataka, spoke to Shemin Joy of DH.
How important is this fight for you and the Opposition?
The question is not whether it is important or not important. I am the candidate of the joint Opposition. The Opposition parties have come together to make a political statement. It is the entire Opposition which has chosen me. We are ready to fight the ruling party.
After a long time, this is the first time that there is an election to Rajya Sabha polls. Governments earlier used to build consensus. Why is it that there is no consensus candidate this time?
In the past four years, the Narendra Modi government never tried to build consensus on any issue. You cannot expect that they will try to build consensus this time. This government is not known for such things.
BJD with nine MPs hold the keys to the results. You were Congress in-charge in Odisha. Are you in touch with BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik?
Senior Congress leaders are in touch with all prominent leaders. We are hopeful.
The Opposition does not have numbers. What is your strategy?
One does not discuss strategy in public. I think that is bad strategy. You will see our strategy on Thursday morning on the floor of the House.
The Opposition is claiming that the NDA is misusing government machinery to ensure support for its candidate. Do you agree?
This government is known for that.