DHANKHAR TO CARRY FORWARD SHEKHAWAT’S TRADITIONS!

Jaipur: After 12 years, Rajasthan has once again given another Vice President to the country. Senior leader Jagdeep Dhankhar took oath as the Vice- President. Before this, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat became the 11th VicePresident of India on August 12, 2002. It is also a happy coincidence that the command of both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha will be in the hands of Rajasthanis, and thus, Rajasthan will dominate the Parliament. “Son of the soil” Jagdeep Dhankhar took oath as the Vice- President. Dhankhar is the second Rajasthani after Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who has reached the position. Bhairon Singh Shekhawat of Rajasthan had reached the pinnacle of glory as the Vice- President. Late Shekhawat, who is called ‘Ajatshatru’ in politics, had a tenure as the Vice- President from August 19, 2002 to July 21, 2007. During this, he worked to enhance the dignity of the Upper House of Parliament.

Now, Jagdeep Dhankhar has got the distinction of reaching the post of Vice- President. Dhankhar has proved his mettle in both law and politics, he has also been a Minister of State during the tenure of former Prime Minister Chandrashekhar and Governor during PM Modi’s tenure. In the Vice- Presidential election as NDA candidate, he unilaterally defeated the opposition candidate Margaret Alva. Bhairon Singh Shekhawat held the post of Vice -President and Chairman of Rajya Sabha when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was Prime Minister. The acceptance of Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who was one of the founding members of BJP, was with all parties. Shekhawat was above party politics, hence, called ‘Ajatashatru’ and had defeated Dalit leader Sushil Kumar Shinde in the VicePresidential election. Against him, the opposition made Shinde a candidate so that it could break into the Dalit votes of NDA. But when the results were out, the Opposition’s bet turned upside down, as cross voting took place in Shekhawat’s favour.

The Vice- President is also the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and Shekhawat’s style of running the Upper House was purely ‘khanty’, i.e. the focus was on having more sittings of the House. He had a different style of scolding the members who created the ruckus. Later, he used to call in the chamber and listen to the grievances. The biggest feature of Shekhawat was to run the house like a fair person. After becoming the Vice- President, the person doesn’t belong to any party, this dignity was fulfilled by Shekhawat. Jagdeep Dhankhar’s style of working is also somewhat similar to that of Shekhawat. This is the reason that despite not having good relations with Mamata Banerjee while serving as West Bengal Governor, Banerjee did not vote against him in the election of Vice- President. Dhankhar was of the Congress ideology in his young life but later he switched ideology to Janata Dal and later to BJP. But he had his own ideology, due to which he had friends in all parties and enjoyed most cordial relations. Obviously, Jagdeep Dhankhar can be seen doing the work of carrying forward the Shekhawat traditions in the post of VicePresident and as Chairman of Rajya Sabha. However, it will also be a happy coincidence for Rajasthan that Rajya Sabha is being run by Jagdeep Dhankhar & the lower house is already run by Om Birla of Rajasthan.