(Image source from: The Indian Express)

For the post of the Rajya Sabha deputy chairman, the first-time lawmaker Harivansh Singh from Nitish's Kumar Janata Dal-United easily won the election, as the opposition came up short in the contest that was seen as a test for its unity in the run-up to the 2019 national election.

Harivansh Singh had 125 votes against opposition's 105. In the gripping build-up over the last few days, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah worked the phones and won over fence-sitters like Naveen Patnaik.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), distressed at the opposition Congress, decided to stay out. With the battle expected to be close, even Union minister Arun Jaitley, who was recuperating at home from surgery, came to parliament to vote.

"I congratulate Harivansh Ji on being elected the Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

By Sowmya Sangam