New Delhi [India], September 8 : A day ahead of the Vice-Presidential election, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Monday urged Members of Parliament to cast their votes with careful consideration, guided by their conscience and the national interest.
Speaking to ANI, Raut also raised questions over the absence of former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar from the public eye.
"The country's MPs cast their votes for the post of Vice President, be it Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha. Yesterday, the Prime Minister was present at the mock session. Today, our people will sit for a mock session. This election for the post of Vice President is being held for the protection of the country's constitution, for democracy, for the national interest," Raut said.
"Where our previous Vice President is, I don't know. Until Mr Dhankhar makes a public appearance or comes out in public, we will keep asking the question. Where is our former Vice President?" he added.
Expressing concern over the state of democracy, Raut said, "Keeping this in mind, all the MPs of the country should vote. If the one who talks about democracy is made to disappear in this manner, then I believe the democracy of the country is in danger. Keeping in mind that the BJP does not have a majority today, all the MPs should vote thinking about what the soul of the country wants and what their own conscience wants..."
However, Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske criticised Raut's statement over former Vice-President Dhankhar, alleging that he gives such statements "just to stay in the news."
Mhaske said, "Sanjay Raut gives such statements just to stay in the news...Shiv Sena (UBT) does not have the numbers...They never worked for the benefit of the public..."
The Vice Presidential election, scheduled for September 9, will witness a direct contest between Justice (Retd.) B Sudershan Reddy, backed by the INDIA bloc, and NDA's nominee CP Radhakrishnan.
The Bharatiya Janata Party organised a 'Sansad Karyalaya' on Sunday, and it will also be held today as a practice session for its MPs on Monday to guide them on the voting process.
Meanwhile, Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, will host a dinner for the INDIA bloc MPs on Monday evening at the Parliament Annexe, a day before the voting for the Vice-Presidential election.
The meeting is to reinforce the opposition's unity and support for their VP candidate, B Sudershan Reddy, who is also supported by All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi.
The Vice Presidential post fell vacant after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned on the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament on July 21, citing health reasons. The election of the Vice President is governed by the provisions under Articles 64 and 68 of the Constitution. The Election Commission notifies the VP polls by the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952.
As per Article 66(1) of the Constitution of India, the election of the Vice President shall be held by the system of proportional representation by means of single transferable vote, and the voting at such election shall be by secret ballot.