Rajya Sabha on Monday re-elected Janata Dal (United) parliamentarian Harivansh Narayan Singh as deputy chairman of the Upper House by voice vote. Harivansh’s name was proposed by BJP president and party MP Jagat Prakash Nadda. Leader of the House Thavarchand Gehlot seconded it.

The opposition had fielded Manoj Jha, an RJD member. Soon after the election, MPs from various political parties congratulated Harivansh. However, it was Manoj Jha’s congratulatory message that took the cake.

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Jha recited Ahmed Faraz’s couplet  to congratulate Singh on his election:

“Tu mohabbat se koi chaal to chal, haar jaane ka hausla hai mujhe.”

Manoj Jha, who holds a Masters degree from Delhi University and also works as professor at the university’s Department of Social Work, is the national spokesperson of Lalu Prasad Yadav’s RJD.

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Manoj Jha, who is known to be a prolific speaker who doesn’t mince his words, was at his best during the debate over the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019 in Rajya Sabha in December last year.

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Back in 2018, Harivansh had defeated Congress’ BK Hariprasad in the election to the post.

The election was necessitated as Harivansh completed his term as a member of Rajya Sabha this year.