Rajya Sabha to elect its new Deputy Chairman today

The election to the post of Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha will be held today. Ruling NDA candidate Harivansh of JD(U) and Opposition nominee BK Hariprasad of Congress will lock horns for the coveted constitutional post.

Both of them filed their notices of motion for the post on the last day yesterday. Secretariat sources said, the election will take place during the first hour and it will be held by a voice vote. In the case of a division, voting will take place.

The current strength of the Rajya Sabha is 244 and support of 123 members would be needed for a win in the full House. BJP is the largest party in the House with 73 members and the Congress has 50 members.

The post of Deputy Chairman has been lying vacant since the retirement of Prof. PJ Kurien last month. Mr Harivansh is a veteran journalist representing Bihar, while Mr Hariprasad represents Karnataka in the House.

There will be a keen



contest between NDA nominee Harivansh and joint Opposition candidate BK Hariprasad. Both sides claim to have majority support. BJP says the NDA nominee is likely to get the backing of Shiv Sena, Akali Dal, AIADMK, TRS, YSRCP, INLD, BJD, three nominated and erstwhile SP MP, Amar Singh. 

On the other hand, the Opposition camp is claiming support of various parties, including Congress, TMC, DMK, Left parties, SP, BSP, NCP, TDP. The current strength of the Rajya Sabha is 244 and support of 123 members would be needed for a win in the full House. BJP is the largest party in the House with 73 members and the Congress has 50 members. 

The post of Deputy Chairman has been lying vacant since the retirement of Prof. PJ Kurien last month. First-time MP Harivansh is a veteran journalist representing Bihar, while and three-time parliamentarian Mr Hariprasad represents Karnataka in the House.