Will steer Rajya Sabha without fear or favour: VP-elect Naidu

New Delhi, Aug 5 (IANS) Vice President-elect M. Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday said as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha he would sincerely try to steer the functioning of the House without "fear or favour" and uphold its dignity and decorum with cooperation of all members.

"As Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, I will sincerely try to steer the functioning of the House without fear or favour. I will uphold the dignity and decorum of the House with the cooperation of all the Members by acting as per the rules of business and the conventions of the House," Naidu said shortly after he was elected as the new Vice President.

He said he would make an endeavour to enable every member of the Upper House make meaningful contribution towards addressing the issues being faced by the country.

Naidu, who will succeed Hamid Ansari on August 10, said he was "humbled by the honour bestowed on me by electing me to the office of the Vice President of India" by virtue of which he also becomes the chairperson of the Rajya Sabha.

The former BJP leader said he was "particularly grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP President Amit Shah and leaders of several other parties for considering me for this important responsibility".

"I am grateful to the honourable Members of Parliament for reposing faith in me and entrusting me this responsibility."

He said he felt overwhelmed as a commoner to be conferred with the honour "given my roots in the family of an ordinary farmer".

"This speaks for the beauty and strength of our parliamentary democracy. Parliament is the highest forum of our democratic polity which is to enable socio-economic development of our country through necessary legislative measures for bettering the lives of the people."