New Delhi, 10 April (H.S.):

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and outgoing Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh were sworn in as members of the Upper House on Friday, administered by Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman C. P. Radhakrishnan in Parliament House.

The ceremony drew a constellation of dignitaries, including Leader of the House and Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Minister Rajiv Ranjan alias Lalan Singh, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, and Bihar Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary.

At 69, Harivansh's prior term concluded on April 9, prompting President Droupadi Murmu to nominate him Friday to one of Rajya Sabha's 12 presidential slots—reserved for luminaries in art, literature, science, and social service. The vacancy stemmed from former Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi's retirement.

This dual induction reinforces Bihar's parliamentary heft, blending executive stewardship with seasoned legislative acumen.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar