Sayeed may enter Rajya Sabha from Delhi

The Union Power Minister, P. M. Sayeed, is most likely to enter the Rajya Sabha from Delhi to fill the seat vacated by the senior Congress leader, Ambika Soni, earlier this month. It is learnt that another Congress Rajya Sabha member from Delhi, A. R. Kidwai, has been sounded by the party high command for a gubernatorial post. He is likely to resign from the seat after his name is announced for the post of Governor.

It is understood that the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, has informed the Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, of the possible developments. While Mr. Sayeed would fill the vacancy created by Ms. Soni, the party has still not decided on who would fill the possible vacancy created by Mr. Kidwai.

The Capital has three representatives in the Upper House, with the former Union Minister and renowned scholar, Karan Singh, being the third member. The six-year tenure of the three is scheduled to expire in January 2006.

It is also understood that a meeting between Mr. Sayeed and the Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, was also held in this regard.

Elected to the Lok Sabha from the Lakshdweep parliamentary constituency for a record 10 consecutive terms since 1967, Mr. Sayeed, 63, was defeated by a narrow margin of just 71 votes by P. Pookunji of the Janata Dal (United) in the recent Lok Sabha election. Lakshdweep does not have a Rajya Sabha seat. As per the existing constitutional provisions, Mr. Sayeed has to become a Member of Parliament within six month of becoming a Minister. The by-election for the Rajya Sabha seat, declared vacant after the resignation of Ms. Soni, is expected to be held before the expiry of this deadline.

Ms. Soni, who had about 18 months left for her tenure as a Rajya Sabha member from Delhi, had resigned on June 10 after she was nominated by the party to the Upper House from Punjab. She filed her nominations for the seat in Chandigarh today.

Sources here revealed that Mr. Kidwai, who would turn 84 on July 1, is being tipped to be one of the Governors which the ruling Congress-led coalition Government is likely to appoint soon. “As a result, there would be one more vacancy for the Rajya Sabha from Delhi. As of now, no name has been decided for this seat,” sources said.

Elected to the Rajya Sabha from the Capital in January 2000, Mr. Kidwai has the distinction of being one of the longest-serving Governors of Bihar. He was Governor of Bihar for about 11 years in two terms — from 1979 to 1985 and from 1993 to 1998. He was also West Bengal Governor for about a year from 1998 to 1999. Mr. Kidwai was also Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University from 1983 to 1990.