New Delhi

Rajya Sabha nominated MP Harivansh Narayan Singh, who filed his nomination for the post of the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha in the Rajya Sabha Secretariat on Thursday.

The Rajya Sabha is set to elect its new Deputy Chairman on Friday, April 17, under Rule 7 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Upper House of Parliament.

The official proceedings are scheduled to commence at 11:00 AM, immediately after the papers/reports are laid on the table of the House, marking a critical moment for legislative coordination as the House navigates a complex session.

The election for this top parliamentary position has been vacant since Harivansh Narayan Singh's term ended on April 9. He had been serving as the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman since 2018.

The day after, on April 10, President Droupadi Murmu nominated Harivansh Narayan Singh as a Member of the Rajya Sabha, according to a Gazette notification.

The office of the Deputy Chairman is a constitutional necessity under Article 89(2) of the Indian Constitution. While the Vice President of India serves as the ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the Deputy Chairman is elected from among the members of the House to perform the duties of the Chair in the absence of the Chairman.

The Deputy Chairman presides over the sittings of the Rajya Sabha when the Chairman is absent and exercises the same powers as the Chairman while presiding, including the maintenance of order and interpretation of the Rules of Procedure.

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Though elected as a representative of a political party, the Deputy Chairman is expected to function with impartiality once in the Chair.

Meanwhile, the India Bloc parties have decided to boycott the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman elections scheduled for April 17, according to sources.