Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman poll: 'Few are those who dare speak in learned hall', elected NDA candidate Harivansh thanks House | Watch speech live

NDA nominee Harivansh has won the poll for  Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman with 125 votes. The Opposition's candidate BK Hariprasad secured 105 votes. Harivansh, who is a first time MP from JDU, hails from Jharkhand and is a journalist by profession. 

It was a closely contested battle between the two parliamentarians as the arithmetic polls remained dynamic till the last moment with parties like YSRCP, BJP, PDP keeping the mystery alive into small hours. 

The post of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman had been lying vacant since the retirement of PJ Kurien on July 1.

Also read | Harivansh: From Rs 500 as first salary to likely Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman post

Watch full speech by Harivansh Narayan Singh: 

As it Happened:

01:00 pm: The House adjourned till 2 pm for lunch. 

01:00 pm: RS Chairman Venkaiah Naidu invites newly-elected Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh to lead the session.

12:55 pm: Many indeed may fearlessly die in the presence of they foes, but few are those fearless in the assembly of learned - Harivansh quotes Kerala's famous poet 

'Shatru madhya marte nidar milte sulabh anek
Sabha madhya bhashan nidar kerte durlabh ek 

Many encountering death in face of foe will hold their ground; 
Who speak undaunted in the council hall are rarely found. 

Many indeed may (fearlessly) die in the presence of (their) foes; (but) few are those who are fearless in the assembly (of the learned).' - Thiruvalluvar in Thirukkural (Kural)

2:54 pm: When my villagers asked Jayprakash Narayan to use his clout to help his village, he said villages across India are my villages, if I helped only this one then who will help the rest?: Harivansh in Rajya Sabha

12:53 pm: I have lead an extremely simple life and used to sit under the trees to study while I was young: Harivansh in Rajya Sabha

12:53 pm: I am thankful to all those who spoke about me and to those who voted for me for these elections: Harivansh in the Rajya Sabha

12:52 pm: Arun Jaitley ji marked his presence in the House today and I pray for his speedy recovery: Harivansh in the Rajya Sabha

12:51 pm: Harivansh Narayan Singh  addresses the Rajya Sabha after being elected as the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman, says I am grateful to each member of the House

12:50 pm: Newly-elected Rajya Sabha Dy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh addressing the House

12:43 pm: Sometimes we win and sometimes we lose, th defeat should not be conceived as lack of unity in Opposition: Sonia Gandhi on NDA Candidate Harivansh elected as Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman.

11:59 am: Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitley addressing the Parliament for the first time after recovering from a pro-longed illness which kept hm inactive from politics and government. 

Arun Jaitely addresses Rajya Sabha

11:54 am: 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: PM in the Rajya Sabha

11:53 am: I congratulate Harivansh ji on behalf of the whole house. He has been blessed with the talent of writing. He was also a favourite of former PM Chandra Shekhar ji: PM Modi

11:52 am: I am happy that the Leader of the Rajya Sabha, Shri Arun Jaitley is present today: PM in the Rajya Sabha

11:49 am: PM Narendra Modi congratulates NDA Candidate Harivansh Narayan Singh who was elected as Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman

11:49 am: 

11:42 am: NDA candidate Harivansh wins with 125 votes, Oppn candidates gets 105

11:37 am: Second vote: Harivansh wins again, House members who have complaints of technical glitches now being distributed slips for corrections

11:32 am: NDA candidate Harivansh wins in first vote, House Chairman orders second vote as there were technical glitches in the first one.

11:30 am: 

11:24 am: Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman election Latest Updates: It's NDA's Harivansh vs Oppn's Hariprasad; 9 motions moved in House

11:08 am: At the moment NDA claims the support of 124 MPs, while Opposition's candidate has backing of 111 MPS, while nine have announced their decision to abstain. Polling to begin shortly.

11:00 am: 

10:55 am: Union Minister Arun Jaitley arrives in Parliament ahead of election for Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman

10:50 am: We are confident of our win and election result is a foregone conclusion: Harivansh Narayan Singh, NDA's candidate for the post of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman.

10:40 am: BJP has issued a three line whip to its Rajya Sabha MPs to be present in the house today. Voting for Deputy Chairman is to take place today.

10:20 am: YSR Congress has decided to abstain from the polling today. The party has two MPs in the Upper House. Last night PDP (two) had also announced its decision to abstain. The AAP with three members has not clarified its stand so for. "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.

10:00 am: 

Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman election: Who has the numbers and how?

According to BJP's calculations, Harivansh is likely to get the backing of 91 NDA members, three nominated and erstwhile SP MP Amar Singh. He also has the votes of some non-NDA parties -- AIADMK (13 members), TRS (six), INLD (one) and BJD (nine) -- adding up to 126. YSRCP, which had earlier announced the support to NDA candidate has now decided to abstain.

Hariprasad has the support of 61 MPs of the Congress-led UPA, 13 members each of the TMC and the SP, six MPs of the TDP, five of the CPI(M), four from the BSP, two of the CPI and one MP of the JD(S), adding up to 105 members. Four DMK MPs are likely to abstain due to the recent demise of party patriarch Karunanidhi. 

One nominated and one independent member will also support the candidature of Hariprasad, sources in the opposition said. This would take the expected opposition total to about 107, they said.

The PDP, which has two MPs, has declared it is abstaining. The AAP with three members has not clarified its stand so for. However, both parties are unlikely to support the BJP-backed candidate.

There are other imponderables with several smaller parties not declaring their intention.

Watch video: 

Powers of Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha

The Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha presides over the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha in the absence of the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. 

List of Deputy Chairmen of the Rajya Sabha

1. SV Krishnamoorthy Rao (Congress)1952-1962
2. Violet Alva (Congress)1962-1969
3. BD Khobragade (Republican Party of India) 1969-1972 
4. Godey Murahari (Samyukta Socialist Party)1972-1977
5. Ram Niwas Mirdha (Congress) 1977-1980
6. Shyamlal Yadav (Congress)1980-1984
7. Najma Heptullah (Congress)1985-1986
8. MM Jacob (Congress) Feb 1986-Oct 1986
9. Pratibha Patil (Congress)1986-1988
10. Najma Heptullah (Congress)1988-2004
11. K Rahman Khan (Congress) 2004-2012
12. PJ Kurien (Congress) 2012-2018

With inputs from agencies