The Janata Dal (U)-BJP divorce has made Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman and JD(U) MP Harivansh’s future in the post uncertain and has also cast a shadow on the controversial Electricity (Amendment) Bill, that is under consideration of a standing committee on Energy headed by JD(U)‘s National President Rajiv Ranjan Singh aka Lalan Singh.
Neither the JD(U) nor Mr. Harivansh have commented on whether he will continue in the position despite the bitter parting. According to sources in the JD(U), Mr. Harivansh was invited by Mr. Singh for the party meeting in which the call to quit the alliance was taken, but he did not reach Patna. Mr. Harivansh, in private has told many leaders that he is willing to abide by the party diktat.
Journalist turned politician, Mr. Harivansh who also served as media adviser to former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar, in 2014 was sent to Rajya Sabha by the JD(U). In August 2018, he was elected as Deputy Chairman. He was re-elected to the post on September 2020 after he returned to the Upper House for a second term.
