New Delhi, Dec 1 (NationPress) Congress national president and Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge congratulated Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan on his appointment as Chairman of the Upper House. He voiced the Opposition's disappointment at not having the chance to bid farewell to former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar following his sudden resignation.

Kharge reminded Radhakrishnan of his past ties with the Congress and urged him to maintain impartiality, warning that any favoritism towards the ruling party could be harmful.

Radhakrishnan, previously the Governor of Maharashtra, secured his Vice Presidential position with 452 votes, defeating the INDIA bloc candidate Sudarshen Reddy.

In his remarks within the House, Kharge stated, "I rise today on my own behalf and on behalf of all opposition members to warmly congratulate you on taking office as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha."

Quoting former President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, who also held the Vice Presidency, he said, "I find it fitting to reference Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan's words... On May 16, 1952, he stated, 'I belong to no party'. This is significant as many claim you belong to their party. 'A democracy risks turning into tyranny if it does not permit the Opposition to critique government policies fairly and freely' -- this is from Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan's speech."

Kharge highlighted the Vice President's connection to the Congress by mentioning his late uncle C.K. Kuppuswamy, a three-time Lok Sabha MP from Coimbatore, noting that Radhakrishnan later represented the same area.

"I urge you to maintain a balanced viewpoint and avoid favoring the Treasury benches, as that could be perilous; however, ignoring the Opposition benches is also risky. It's crucial to keep balance on both sides, and I wish you a successful term," he stated.

He emphasized the Vice President's political roots by saying, "I hope you remember that your origins lie within the Congress party."

In response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's comments ahead of the Winter Session, Kharge remarked, "The Prime Minister has made a strong speech outside and conducted a press conference, indirectly critiquing us. However, we will address that within the House."

He expressed regret over Dhankhar's unexpected departure, mentioning, "I hope you won't mind my alluding to your predecessor's unforeseen exit from the Chairman position, which is unprecedented in parliamentary history."

"The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is the custodian of the entire House, representing both the Opposition and the government. It saddened me that the House did not have a chance to bid him farewell. Regardless, on behalf of the entire Opposition, I wish him a long and healthy life," he concluded.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju sharply criticized Kharge for mentioning Dhankhar's resignation during the session, stating it was inappropriate for the current moment.

Rijiju slammed Congress, saying, "Kharge ji, you, your LoP in Lok Sabha, and your chief whip Jairam Ramesh -- the actions you've taken are not worth mentioning in the House today. In a democracy, we should show mutual respect. What you referenced is very unfortunate. I want to remind the House that you have forgotten the language you used to insult the former Vice President and the former Chairman."

"The remarks you made about the former Chairman and the removal motion you filed, a copy of which we still have, have tarnished the dignity of the Chair. On this solemn occasion, I implore you not to refer to anything unnecessary," he added.

Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned on the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament on July 21, citing health issues as his reason.