Harivansh elected unopposed as Rajya Sabha deputy chairman

Harivansh Narayan Singh was on Friday re-elected unopposed as the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, securing a rare third consecutive term in the key parliamentary position.
The post had fallen vacant after the conclusion of his previous term on April 9. The election, held on April 17, 2026, saw Union Minister and Leader of the House J. P. Nadda move the motion for his re-election, which was accepted without any contest.

Nominated Rajya Sabha MP Harivansh Narayan Singh has been elected unopposed as the Dy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

(File Pic) pic.twitter.com/2skF84tsZL

— ANI (@ANI) April 17, 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Harivansh, praising his experience and contributions to the smooth functioning of the Upper House. Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge also extended his greetings, reflecting broad political support across party lines.
Harivansh’s re-election is considered significant, as he becomes one of the few leaders to hold the office for three consecutive terms. A journalist-turned-politician, his parliamentary journey has been marked by consensus-building and procedural expertise.He was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by President Droupadi Murmu following a vacancy created after the retirement of former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi. With his term ending earlier this month, the Deputy Chairman’s post had become vacant, prompting fresh elections as per parliamentary rules.The election process was conducted under the supervision of Chairman C. P. Radhakrishnan, who had scheduled the poll in accordance with established procedures.