New Delhi: Nominated Rajya Sabha MP Harivansh Narayan Singh was today (April 17) elected unopposed as the deputy chairman of the Rajya Sabha, in a vote that the opposition parties boycotted.This is his third consecutive time in the post, but his first as a nominated MP. The Congress has highlighted how this is also the first time that an MP who was nominated by the president to the Rajya Sabha has been made its Deputy Chairman. Harivansh’s second term in the Rajya Sabha ended on April 9 and a day later he was nominated by President Draupadi Murmu as a member of the Rajya Sabha.Rajya Sabha deputy chairpersons are elected after an MP submits a motion proposing another MP’s name for the post and that motion is seconded. The proposed member is required to submit a declaration saying that they are ready to serve as deputy chairperson if elected.Indian Express has reported that the Rajya Sabha secretariat received five notices for Harivansh for the deputy chairman election by the stipulated deadline of noon on April 16, all from the BJP.Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “Being elected as Deputy Chairman for the third consecutive term is a testament to the deep trust this House has in you, the benefits the House has received from your experience over the past period, and your efforts to take everyone along.”“We have all seen the strength of the House grow even more effective under Harivansh’s leadership. Not only does he conduct the proceedings of the House, but he also uses his past experiences to enrich the House with great precision,” Modi added, according to Times of India.Modi said that the deputy chairman’s new term would proceed “with the same spirit, balance, and dedication” and expressed hope that the dignity of the House would reach new heights through collective efforts.The opposition’s move to boycott the election is centred also around the fact that the Modi government has – incredibly – left the position of Lok Sabha deputy speaker empty for seven years. The Lower House deputy speaker is a member of the opposition.This is the longest that the post has been left empty. The issue was also raised in the Lower House on March 10 as it took up the no-confidence motion moved against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, but to no avail.In a post on X, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh wrote that “all this is being done without any meaningful consultations with the Opposition.”“For these three reasons and as a mark of protest – but not with any disrespect to the very learned Shri Harivansh – the Opposition has regretfully decided to boycott the election of the Deputy Chairman scheduled for April 17. The Opposition hopes that Shri Harivansh 3.0 will be more accommodative of and receptive to the requests of the Opposition,” he wrote.