PM Modi praised Harivansh after he was elected as Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
Highlights
- Harivansh elected as Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman
- He is a first time Rajya Sabha member from Nitish Kumar's party
- The opposition's nominee was BK Hariprasad of the Congress.
In the "Hari vs Hari" battle for the Rajya Sabha number two post, the government scored an easy win. The BJP-led coalition's nominee Harivansh was elected Deputy Chairman of the house by 125 to 101 votes.
The opposition's nominee was BK Hariprasad of the Congress.
"With Harivansh ji in the Rajya Sabha, ab sab Hari bharose, Hari Kripa (Everything is up to god, god's mercy)," Prime Minister Narendra Modi quipped as the house congratulated Harivansh.
In glowing praise for Harivansh, a first time Rajya Sabha member from the Janata Dal United of Nitish Kumar, PM Modi said: "Harivansh ji is well read and has written a lot. He has served society for years."
Harivansh, 62, is former editor-in-chief of the "Prabhat Khabar" newspaper based in Jharkhand's Ranchi. He is described as a member who has friends across the political spectrum. He was associated with Jai Prakash Narayan or "JP", the renowned socialist who united opposition parties against Indira Gandhi's Emergency rule.
"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," PM Modi said.
The Prime Minister's phone call to Naveen Patnaik, the leader of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is among the factors that helped the government swing the vote in its favour. The YSR Congress, the DMK and a Trinamool Congress lawmaker abstained.