Intense Debate in Rajya Sabha Over Renaming of Raj Bhavan

A recent session in the Rajya Sabha saw a heated exchange between Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge and Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan regarding the renaming of Raj Bhavan to Lok Bhavan. Kharge criticized the handling of the debate, while TMC MP Dola Sen accused the BJP of dictatorial practices and failing to consult state governments on the name change. The discussion also touched on the central government's alleged unpaid dues to West Bengal. This contentious debate highlights ongoing tensions in Indian politics and raises questions about parliamentary democracy.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 3, 2025, 12:49 IST

Heated Exchange in Rajya Sabha

On Wednesday, a fierce debate erupted in the Rajya Sabha between Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge and Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan. This discussion was triggered after an agreement was reached to rename the Governor's residence to Lok Bhavan. Kharge pointed out to the Chairman that everything is related to this topic and that discussions had previously occurred in the Chairman's office regarding it. He criticized the fact that only Dola Sen was allowed to speak, stating that leaders should not be silenced or labeled as 'unparliamentary.' He remarked that leaders are being bulldozed out of the conversation.

Questions Raised on Parliamentary Democracy

In response to J.P. Nadda's call to remove unrelated comments from the discussion, Kharge questioned the Chairman, asking, "Are we not supposed to operate this house according to parliamentary democracy? All records must be preserved; not a single word should be omitted." Nadda countered Kharge's accusations by requesting the Chairman's protection, asserting that he has never bulldozed anyone but merely suggested that relevant topics should be acknowledged while irrelevant ones should be scrutinized.

TMC's Allegations Against BJP

The debate intensified when TMC MP Dola Sen spoke on the issue, accusing the BJP of running a 'dictatorship' that the public would ultimately dismantle. She claimed that the name change of Raj Bhavan to Lok Bhavan was made without consulting state governments. Sen emphasized that the state government has been bearing the costs of Lok Bhavan for years, yet the state assembly was not informed about these notifications regarding the name change. She argued that this not only attacks federalism but also suggests that Raj Bhavan is being used to operate as a parallel government, acting as an extension of the BJP's party officials. She questioned, "Under a grand conspiracy, the orders from the Home Ministry have been enforced in Bengal, but what is the situation on the ground for the people?"

Allegations of Unpaid Dues

Sen also accused the central government of failing to pay West Bengal's dues, which include ₹43,000 crores for MGNREGA, ₹42,600 crores for cyclone relief, and ₹24,200 crores for the rural housing scheme. Following Sen's speech, the leader of the house and BJP MP J.P. Nadda requested the Chairman to review Sen's remarks and remove any statements that were not pertinent to the discussion.