Kharge sums up oppn mood: It is 'neither happy, nor sad'

NEW DELHI: As Rajya Sabha met Tuesday morning - the second day of Parliament's monsoon session - the effect of Jagdeep Dhankhar's departure weighed heavily in the Upper House. The VP is also the Rajya Sabha chairman.

Dhankhar, usually, would not miss chairing RS proceedings at the beginning of the day, but on Tuesday, all eyes were on deputy chairman Harivansh as he strode into the House as the clock struck 11. He greeted MPs with a zealous 'Vanakkam' and started the business of the day by calling the first speaker of zero hour.

However, proceedings were disrupted following vociferous protests from opposition MPs who trooped into the well when the chair denied admission of a dozen notices to discuss issues ranging from Dhankhar's "unexpected and unprecedented" resignation, special revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, Pahalgam terror attack to Operation Sindoor. RS transacted no business during the day amid repeated adjournments.

Similar scenes were witnessed in Lok Sabha which saw almost no business amid opposition protests.

The corridors of Parliament were abuzz with speculation over Dhankhar's resignation. When TOI spoke to some MPs - governing and opposition - they said they were baffled by the development.

Congress president and LoP in RS Mallikarjun Kharge said, "He has resigned on his own, and therefore, we don't have to say anything on that because humko khushi bhi nahin hai, gham bhi nahin hai (we are neither happy nor sad)." His remarks summed up the relationship between Dhankhar and the opposition.

In RS, Harivansh said "further constitutional process concerning vacancy in the office of VP will be communicated as and when received".