New Delhi: Rajya Sabha NDA candidate, Bihar’s JDU leader Hari Vansh Narayan Singh has been elected as the deputy chairman of the Rajya Sabha, for second time. Hari Vansh Narayan Singh had defeated Congress BK Hari Prasad in 2018 election to the post. It fell vacant at the end of his Rajya Sabha term.

Hari Vansh Narayan Singh was re-elected by a voice vote today, beating RJD member Professor Manoj Kumar Jha, who was the candidate of opposition parties. The YSR Congress had supported the BJP’s candidate.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address at Rajya Sabha at the Mansoon Session of parliament first day, Modi said Hari Vansh Narayan Ji is a torchbearer of democracy. This land known for its Democratic Ethos.

Narendra Modi today highlighted the role of Bihar in the country’s “democratic ethos”, recalling former greats like Jayaprakash Narayan and Karpuri Thakur while congratulating Rajya Sabha member Harivansh Narayan Singh, who got elected as the deputy chairman of the Upper House today for a second time.

Bihar is the land of JP (Jayaprakash Narayan) and Karpuri Thakur (former Chief Minister) and the land of Bapu’s Champaran,” PM Modi said. “We all know that Harivansh Narayan Ji hails from Jai Prakash-ji’s village Sitabdiara,” he added, drawing attention to the political leader and social activist. Hari Vansh Narayan Singh, who held the post since 2018, happens to be from Bihar, a state headed for assembly elections later this year.

“Lok Nayak”, Jayaprakash Narayan had started a political movement, which shaped most of today’s political leaders from Bihar — Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Lalu Yadav, Ram Vilas Paswan and Raghuvansh Prasad Singh who died last week. Modi said that Bihar has been the “land of India’s democratic system”. “I believe that Harivansh Narayan Ji will take forward this legacy,” he added.

Terming Hari Vansh Narayan Singh an “outstanding umpire who belongs to all sides of the aisle”, PM Modi said he has “conducted proceedings in an impartial manner”. “The respect I hold for Harivansh Narayan ji, each member of the House shares. He has earned this respect. His unbiased role in the Parliament strengthens our democracy,” Modi added.

Rajya Sabha Congress MP Ghulam Nabi Azad congratulated Hari Vansh Narayan Singh for elected second time for the post of Deputy Chairman and said he has been just to members of all parties.