Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Manoj Jha was elected to Rajya Sabha unopposed in 2018. Two years after his parliament debut, Manoj Jha is contesting for the post of Rajya Sabha deputy chairperson, which will be held on Monday. He is up against Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA candidate Janata Dal-United’s Harivansh Narayan Singh, who held the post last.

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. His Twitter bio reads: “Prof@University of Delhi. Member Rajya Sabha (RJD)

& National Spokesperson. Committed to Subaltern Politics. Books-Transit Talks, Riots as Rituals. RTs are ambiguous.”

After filing his nomination for the post of Rajya Sabha deputy chairperson, Jha, who is a prominent face in television debates,  wrote a letter to his fellow parliamentarians making a fervent appeal to “stand up and be counted”.

“It is the collective wish of the opposition that this election may not be seen as a contest for power to legislate at the level of the Union government. It should also not be seen as a contest between two individuals. In view of the great parliamentary tradition, this election is about two different versions of our parliamentary democracy: one, which only sees it as a numbers game, and the other, which places importance on critique, discussion, and consensus building in the interest of our country and its people,” Jha wrote.

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.

The RJD leader’s scathing speech had attracted much appreciation within the opposition galleries. Jha had called the Bill  “constitutionally suspect”.

“The history is a testament to the fact that alongside jews were persecuted those who stood by the former. Why protection only to those who faced religious persecution, why not those who don’t believe in God,” Manoj Jha had said while fighting against the CAB tooth and nail.

While the election for Rajya Sabha deputy chairperson post may be a token contest, it is being watched keenly as both the candidates are from Bihar where Assembly elections are due in October/November.