RS ‘unanimously’ elects Kurien its deputy chairman

In a rare show of camaraderie during a brief spell of clam in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, seasoned Congress parliamentarian PJ Kurien was unanimously chosen deputy chairperson of the upper house.

In a rare show of camaraderie during a brief spell of clam in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, seasoned Congress parliamentarian PJ Kurien was unanimously chosen deputy chairperson of the upper house.

The BJP let the House run for 45 minutes when it convened at 12pm for what leader of opposition Arun Jaitley termed as a “rare” event of a “unanimous election” of the deputy chairman.

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While PM Manmohan Singh spoke of the “wide-esteem and support” Kurien enjoys, Jaitley praised his “pleasantness and patience.”

In his long political career Kurien was a Lok Sabha MP for six terms and member of Rajya Sabha for three terms.

Earlier, Singh had proposed Kurien’s name for the post and it was seconded by Jaitley.

Trinamool Congress leader and minister Mukul Roy was absent when his name was called out for moving a motion choosing Kurien as the deputy chairperson. But party colleague Derek O’Brien moved the motion and saved the situation.