Vice-President Dhankhar's personal staff on Rajya Sabha committees, uproar among Opposition

A day after Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar appointed 8 senior officials from his personal staff to 20 different house committees falling under the control of the Rajya Sabha, the Opposition voiced its objection calling the development 'bizarre'.

The NDTV reported that several Congress leaders, speaking off the record, levelled allegations that the Vice-President's move is to 'keep a close watch on various committees, which clearly shows his no confidence in the existing mechanism.'

Eight members of Dhankhar's personal staff, including four posted in the Vice-President Secretariat, have been appointed on the 20 committees, an order issued by the Rajya Sabha Secretariat said on March 07.

Some among these 20 committees are headed by non-BJP and opposition MPs.

The Congress leaders further added that this clearly showed the Vice-President did not have confidence in the current officers who keep the Rajya Sabha secretary general updated regarding the developments in the various committees.

Among those appointed to the committees include the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Vice-President, OSD to the Chairman and Personal Secretary to the Vice-President.

Sources in the Rajya Sabha Secretariat said there has not been any precedence of the chairperson appointing his staff to the committees.

with agency inputs

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