Table of Contents
ELECTION OF DEPUTY CHAIRMAN
- Harivansh Narayan Singh – an Indian journalist and politician, who is the current Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament
• Belonging to the Janata Dal (United), was elected as the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha
- Mr. Harivansh is a first-time
MP THE DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF RAJYA SABHA
- The Deputy Chairman is a constitutional position created under Article 89 of the Constitution, which specifies that Rajya Sabha shall choose one of its MPs to be the Deputy Chairman as often as the position becomes vacant.
- The office becomes vacant either by resignation or removal from office or when the Rajya Sabha member’s term gets over.
- 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.
NOTES
- While Vice President of India serves as ex-officio chairman of Rajya Sabha; the day to day meetings are presided by Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha.
- In certain circumstances, the Deputy Chairman works as Chairman of Rajya Sabha. For example, if VicePresident is elected as President or is discharging his functions as President due to unavailability of the later, Deputy Chairman works as Chairman of Rajya Sabha.
CASTING VOTE
- Both chairman and Deputy chairman in Rajya Sabha exercise the casting vote when a tie occurs in voting in Rajya Sabha.
- The Deputy Chairman cannot exercise the casting vote when a resolution for his removal is under consideration of the house.
THE ELECTION
- BJP on Thursday ended up ‘keeping’ its truant ally, Shiv Sena, by its side. It also brought in more allies, till now considered ‘non-aligned’ — like Telengana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) — into its fold, thereby tipping the balance in its favour.
- Three MPs each of Congress, Samajwadi Party and AAP; two each of TMC, DMK and PDP abstained from voting. The lone MP to do so from the NDA camp was NPF. This brought down the strength of the House to 232, and the majority figure to 117.
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