In an attempt to ensure that senior leader LK Advani formally retains his position of primacy in Parliament, the BJP has suggested to the government that changes be made in law to formalise the post of chairperson of the parliamentary units of both Congress and BJP and to accord Cabinet rank to the position.
The proposal was made on Monday by senior BJP parliamentary functionaries to the UPA?s managers in Parliament. The underlying suggestion was that such a move would benefit Congress president Sonia Gandhi too, who currently does not enjoy official coverage except on grounds of being an SPG protectee and the spouse of a former Prime Minister.
During UPA-I, the Congress government had created the National Advisory Council with Gandhi as its chairperson?among other reasons, it was done to accord her Cabinet rank. Government managers asserted that amendments would have to be made to the Salaries and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act 1977 if the post of chairperson of parties was to be formally recognised.
The Congress has not yet responded to the proposal that was made through the BJP?s deputy leader in Rajya Sabha, SS Ahluwalia.
The BJP had last week made changes to its parliamentary party constitution to create the post of chairman for Advani after the elevation of Sushma Swaraj to the post of leader of Opposition. The amendment was copied from the Congress? parliamentary party constitution, in which such a change was introduced to elevate Gandhi as CPP chairperson.