Kharge meets Dhankhar amid strained ties

In a move signalling a thaw in their strained relationship, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge met Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday in the Chairman’s chamber at Parliament House.

Tensions between the Opposition and the Chairman had escalated after the Opposition accused Dhankhar of being “partisan” and gave notice last week for a no-confidence motion against him. The relationship further deteriorated as the ruling BJP extended its full support to the Chairman.

Last Friday, Kharge declined an invitation from Dhankhar to meet in his chamber alongside Leader of the House JP Nadda to discuss the stalemate in the Rajya Sabha, further deepening the impasse.