Day after Women's Day, JD(U)'s Kahkashan Parveen appointed on panel of presiding officers in Rajya Sabha

Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu today nominated JD(U) MP Kahkashan Parveen on the panel of presiding officers for conducting proceedings of the House.

She is the first woman on the panel in recent times.

When the House met, Naidu said in deference to the wishes of members expressed on the occasion of International Women's Day yesterday, he is nominating Parveen on the panel with effect from April 3.

According to the House rules, the chairman nominates from amongst the members up to six vice-chairmen or presiding officers who chair the proceedings in absence of the chairman and the deputy chairman.

She would replace Basawaraj Patil, whose term expires on April 2, Naidu said.

Naidu, who is also Vice President of India, is the Chairman of Rajya Sabha while P J Kurien of Congress is the Deputy Chairman.

The panel of vice-chairmen or presiding officers includes Satyanarayan Jatiya (BJP), Tiruchi Siva (DMK), TK Rangarajan (CPM), Bhubaneswar Kalita (Cong), Basawaraj Patil (BJP) and Sukhendu Sekhar Ray (TMC).

Naidu said Parveen has been a mayor and chairman of Bihar Mahila Aayog.

When Viplove Thakur (Cong) rose to thank him, Naidu, in a lighter vein, said he wanted to nominate Thakur, but she would have lost her voice as vice chairmen.

"Viplove, in our language, means revolution," he said.

Naidu hails from Andhra Pradesh and his native language is Telugu.