While Harivansh is a first-time MP of the JD-U, Hariprasad is a three-time parliamentarian of the Congress. The election was necessitated after PJ Kurien of the Congress retired from the position on July 2. The election is seen as a key test for the Congress as it looks to retain the position, while the NDA is eying the spot as it will help the Centre in passing crucial Bills before elections.
The election to the post of Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha will take place at 11 am today, soon after the laying of papers. Both the ruling NDA and the opposition camp gave notices on behalf of their respective candidates and their papers have been found to be in order, according to sources in the Rajya Sabha Secretariat. While the Opposition enjoys the support of Congress, TMC, DMK, Left parties, SP, BSP, NCP, TDP, YSRCP; the NDA has Shiv Sena, BJD, SAD on their side.
"We have numbers on our side and Harivanshji will comfortably win the election tomorrow. It would have been better if the deputy chairman was elected unanimously," Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel said. Congress senior spokesperson Anand Sharma claimed the opposition has the numbers as well as a formidable candidate in Hariprasad, even as he accused the government and the BJP of using every tactic and influence of their authority and power to swing the election.
Lok Sabha was adjourned late in the evening today. The lower house will reconvene on August 10.
Matters of urgent public importance are under discussion in the lower house during Zero Hour. Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai is presiding over the House proceedings.
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Discussion underway in the lower house of Parliament on The Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill, 2017. This is the last bill listed for discussion in the Lok Sabha today.
National Commission for Backward Classes (Repeal) Bill, 2017 passed by Lok Sabha
Rajya Sabha adjourned
National Sports University Bill 2018 was passed in Rajya Sabha on Thursday even as Union Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore was interrupted by opposition members who engaged in constant sloganeering.
Union Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore speaks in the upper house on various initiatives by the government to boost sports at ground level, even as opposition members create ruckus, engage in sloganeering.
Ravi Shankar Prasad appeals to Sonia Gandhi and Congress for supporting Triple Talaq Bill. He said that the Cabinet has approved amendments in law relating to triple talaq. "We've proposed 3 changes. If any husband gives triple talaq instantaneously & breaks marriage then FIR shall only become cognizable when it is filed by victim or blood relation or relation by marriage," he said.
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad says that in a big cabinet decision, the government has decided to provide dal (pulses) to poor people at discount of Rs 15/kg.
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad briefs media persons after Cabinet meet. He will talk regarding various government schemes and upcoming projects. The union minister said that the Cabinet has approved the continuation of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna beyond the 12th five-year plan period.
As soon as the discussion on National Sports University Bill 2018 started in the upper house, members in the house started sloganeering.
Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill, 2018 passed in Rajya Sabha. The bill rules out any provision for anticipatory bail for a person accused of atrocities against SC/STs, notwithstanding any court order.
Due to time constraint, all the members participating in the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill, 2018 discussion were given two minutes each.
Cabinet approves amendment in Triple Talaq Bill. Although the offence continues to remain non-bailable but magistrate can give bail, reports ANI. Meanwhile, discussion on GST is underway in Lok Sabha.
Speaker Venkaiah Naidu appeals to the House to maintain peace while discussion on SC/ST bill and avoid allegations, counter allegations. BJP MP Kirodi Lal Meena accuses Congress MP Kumari Selja of calling him anti-Dalit. The debate on Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill, 2018 will be conducted in the upper house of parliament today.
The upper house of Parliament has been adjourned till 2:43 pm.
Union Minister Piyush Goyal informed Lok Sabha that Arun Jaitley is in "good health" and will soon be resuming his duties. Jaitely who underwent a kidney transplant earlier this year, made his first appearance during the ongoing Monsoon session today while participating in Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman elections today. Goyal has been given the charge of Finance Ministry after Jaitley relinquished the portfolio due to health reasons. Speaking in the Lok Sabha while moving two resolutions related to his ministry, Goyal said "I want to inform the House that Arunji is in good health and soon he shall be with us."
A Joint Parliamentary Committee and a reply from Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Rafale deal were the demands raised by Congress members in Rajya Sabha. The Congress members raised the issue as soon as the Zero Hour began with their leader Mallikarjun Kharge seeking the Speaker's permission to speak on the alleged scam. As Speaker Sumitra Mahajan continued with the listed business, the opposition party members stormed into the Well of the House carrying placards and raising slogans. As they continued their vociferous protests, the Speaker adjourned the House first for 20 minutes till 1 PM. When the House met again, the protests continued, forcing Mahajan to adjourn it again till 2 PM.
Chairman Venkaiah Naidu will host a breakfast tomorrow in the honour of Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh. House will resume proceedings at 2pm
"I congratulate Shri Harivansh Ji on being elected the Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha. An accomplished writer, journalist and active Parliamentarian, I am sure he will further enrich Parliamentary proceedings in his new role. My best wishes to him," Narendra Modi wrote on Twitter.
Newly-elected Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson is addressing the House. Extending gratitude to all members of the House, Harivansh Singh said, 'Now that I have been designated to this role, I belong to neither of the party. But I take this opportunity to thank the party that has given me this opportunity. I would also like to thank PM Modi and Arun Jaitley who came to Rajya Sabha today."
"I never imagined that one day I would hold an office as important as this in parliament one day. I have learned a lot working with you all, and am certain that it will help me deal with matters better. I am also nervous because I will be working with Parliamentarians who come with a lot of experience and knowledge," he added
Rajya Sabha Chairperson and Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu also congratulated Harivansh Narayan Singh on his selection for the post of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chair. "For all those who think that I get emotional in the House, let me assure that Harivansh is a calm person. It is exemplary that he has been elected for the post despite being a first-time lawmaker. Congratulate the House for completing the election before the monsoon session completed. Being a Chairperson I can suggest to him that we should neither look left nor right and work only for the country."
After the results of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson were announced, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi was quoted by ANI as saying, "Sometimes we win and sometimes we lose." The position earlier belonged to Congress leader PJ Kurien, who retired from the House last month.
Known to keep a low profile, Harivansh has the ear of Chief Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar, but would try not to let anybody sense it. His selection, meanwhile, marks a thaw in the relationship of the BJP and the JD(U). He is the first JD(U) man to be picked up by the BJP dispensation for a job at the Centre in the backdrop of a long-held grouse of Nitish that even while he had given a full representation to the BJP in his government, the other side had not reciprocated it at the Centre.
Before being elected to the Upper House, his only stint in politics was during the tenure of former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar, who chose Harivansh as political adviser. Harivansh had then quit as chief editor of Prabhat Khabar to take the position and later returned to the newspaper after Congress withdrew support from the government. After becoming MP, when he had to adopt a village, his first criteria was to choose one that was not related to even his distant relatives and does not have any political significance. He eventually decided on Bahuaara village in Rohtas. Read more
Arun Jaitley, who made his first appearance during the ongoing Monsoon session of Parliament also congratulated Harivansh Narayan Singh
"His experience, commitment and expertise of dealing people will help the House. He had earlier run a column on how the parliamentarians of the country should work. Little did he know that he will one day be the Deputy Chairperson of the House. We all will benefit from his experience," Modi added
Talking about the achievements of Harivansh Narayan Singh, PM Modi refered to his journey as a journalist and how he kept the interest of India at prime focus. "Today we mark the anniversary of the Quit India Movement. Harivansh Ji hails from Ballia, a land linked with freedom fighters. He has been inspired by Loknayak JP. He also spent time in Varanasi. Here is a leader who worked with a statesman like Chandra Shekhar Ji. Working closely with Chandra Shekhar Ji, Harivansh Ji knew in advance that Chandra Shekhar Ji would resign. However, he did not let his own paper have access to this news. This shows his commitment to ethics and public service. He is a learned man. He has read a lot of books and has also written extensively."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended his best wishes to the newly-elected Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Singh.
Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad is addressing the House. Welcoming Arun Jaitley in the House after a brief illness, Azad congratulated Harivansh Singh for winning the post of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman. "In elections, some on wins and someone loses. But the Deputy Chairman is no longer a part of any single party. He belongs to the country now. In fact, I believe that Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the House should in-fact support the Opposition as they are more undernourished than that of the ruling party."
Opposition candidate BK Hariprasad secured 105 seats.
NDA candidate Harivansh Narayan Singh secured 125 votes. The voting was undertaken for the second time after few MPs complained that they could not register their vote on the machine.
The voice vote has been done with and now division of votes is now taking place. Venkaiah Naidu will announce the final results.
The elections for the role of Deputy Chairperson are underway currently. Any Rajya Sabha MP can submit a motion proposing the name of a colleague for this constitutional position. The motion has to be seconded by another MP. Additionally, the member moving the motion has to submit a declaration signed by the MP whose name s/he is proposing stating that the MP is willing to serve as the Deputy Chairperson if elected. Each MP is allowed to move or second only one motion.
If there are motions that propose the names of more than one MP, then the majority of the House will decide who gets elected as the Deputy Chairperson. But if the political parties arrive at a consensus candidate, then that MP will be unanimously elected as the Deputy Chair. Read more
The Deputy Chair is the one position that is elected solely by members of Rajya Sabha. It is a critical position not just because s/he steps in when there is a vacancy in the office of Chairperson/Vice President but also because s/he plays a critical role in ensuring the smooth running of the House.
Arun Jaitley outside Parliament (Express photo by Praveen Jain)
BJP chief Amit Shah, Smriti Irani snapped outside Parliament (Express photo by Anil Sharma)
Rajya Sabha which was adjourned on Wednesday due to the demise of DMK chief M Karunanidhi, opened today at 11 am. Papers are being laid in the House currently
Arun Jaitley, who stepped aside as finance minister in May to undergo a kidney transplant, arrived in the House today to participate in the election. This is Jaitley's first appearance in the Parliament during the ongoing monsoon session. (Express photo by Neeraj Priyadarshi)
YSR Congress which had earlier decided to vote against the BJP candidate, today announced a boycott of the election. "We have decided to abstain from voting for Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman elections. Both Congress and BJP have not fulfilled the promises made to Andhra Pradesh," V. Vijayasai Reddy,YSR Congress MP said, reported ANI.
Harivansh Narayan Singh is the first JD(U) man to be picked up by the BJP dispensation for a job at the Centre in the backdrop of a long-held grouse of Nitish that even while he had given a full representation to the BJP in his government, the other side had not reciprocated it at the Centre. (Express photo by Anil Sharma)
The BJP is the single largest party in the House with 73 seats. The NDA has 91 votes and apart from that the party us also confident of getting support from AIADMK (13 MPs), TRS (6) and INLD (1). The BJD with its 9 MPs will add to the might of the BJP. According to BJP sources, Some MPs from the Congress, the Trinamool Congress and the RJD are likely to be absent or abstain from the voting.
The Congress. on the other hand has 50 MPs. The UPA makes for 66 seats. The Opposition has the support of TMC, DMK, Left parties, SP, BSP, NCP, YSRCP and BJP's former ally TDP. Their strength is likely to be around 121 members. The Aam Aadmi Party is likely to boycott the poll. The House currently has 244 members and a candidate will need 123 votes to win.
Congress sources said the Opposition wanted the election to be postponed to Friday as many leaders are in Chennai and had requested Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu in this regard, but the latter did not agree.
Opposition candidate BK Hariprasad has expressed confidence of winning the election. "We are very confident that we have the required numbers, Opposition is united," he said. Asked whether he was being made a scapegoat since the other parties did not want to contest fearing defeat, he said nobody fears an election. “Congress had given option to all smaller parties… when they said the major party with numbers should fight, my party decided to fight,” he said. (Express photo by Praveen Jain)
Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal has exerted its support to the NDA. The party that has 9 seats in the House can be crucial for the ruling alliance. “We will be supporting the JD(U) candidate… who is also the NDA candidate”. Patnaik also confirmed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah had spoken to him earlier regarding the matter. JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had also called Patnaik to request support for JD(U) candidate Harivansh Narayan Singh. Read more
Aam Aadmi Party, which has three MPs in the Upper House, is likely to abstain from voting in the election. The reason is no “call from the Congress president”. "If they (the Congress) ask for our vote, we will oblige. It is meaningless to vote compulsively (for the Congress), if they do not need it," AAP's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh told reporters. "If Rahul Gandhi can hug Narendra Modi, why cannot he ask Arvind Kejriwal for support to his party's candidate. "We voted in favour of their candidates in the elections for President and Vice President but they did not even had the courtesy to say thank you." " Singh said.
Welcome to the live blog on Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman elections. The vote will take place at 11 am today after the papers are laid in the Upper House. While the Opposition enjoys the support of Congress, TMC, DMK, Left parties, SP, BSP, NCP, TDP, YSRCP; the NDA has Shiv Sena, BJD, SAD on their side. Follow this space to track the latest developments from Parliament