NEW DELHI: A small victory for the Opposition in Parliament, turned out to be reason for big celebration among MPs on Monday. TDP Rajya Sabha member C M Ramesh got re-entry into the Public Accounts Committee, through election, where he finished with the maximum 110 out of 205 votes, from among present and voting members in the House. The opposition celebrated its little victory, terming it as a "blow" to the ruling dispensation and as a sign of unity by the opposition.

There were two PAC vacancies from Rajya Sabha, for which elections were held on Monday with three MPs contesting. Apart from Ramesh who got 110 votes, BJP member Bhupender Yadav was elected with 69 votes. JD(U) member Harivansh, who was fielded as the NDA candidate lost out as he got just 26 votes of the 205 who voted.

While PAC members are usually nominated for a year, the ruling BJP insisted on holding elections this time, to ensure that the TDP MP does not find a place in the 22-member committee, where only seven are chosen from Rajya Sabha and 15 from Lok Sabha. Opposition had suggested a compromise on Friday to BJP by adjusting the members between two committees – PAC and COPU (Committee on Public Undertakings) – but BJP refused it and wanted elections.

"It was the BJP, particularly its chief Amit Shah, who insisted on an election. We had tried to persuade the BJP that one MP each from the ruling and opposition camps can be named against the two vacancies and an election should be normally avoided. But he insisted on a contest. So here is the result," a senior leader in the opposition camp who did not wish to be named, remarked.

The results of the election to the PAC on Monday, turned into a rallying point for the opposition parties, especially with erstwhile NDA partner Telegu Desam Party, which is now a bitter rival of the ruling BJP after switching sides some months ago.

Trinamool Congress MP and leader of the party in Rajya Sabha Derek O’Brien took to Twitter to celebrate the opposition's unity. "Hurrah! Opposition candidate sweeps PAC election ... BJP/NDA candidates left way behind. MPs in Rajya Sabha were the voters. True opposition unity ensured C M Ramesh of TDP got 110 votes. BJP got 69, NDA ally JD-U 26," O'Brien tweeted.

PAC, usually chaired by the largest opposition party leader as a norm, is headed by Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge at present. PAC is constituted by Parliament for auditing of the revenue and the expenditure of the government.

