Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India] August 9 (NT): Biju Janata Dal (BJD) head and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik have extended his support to National Democratic Alliance (NDA) contender Harivansh Narayan Singh for the vacant post of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman. The polls for Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman is to be held today.

PM Modi led NDA has fielded Janata Dal (United) leader Narayan Singh for the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman post as this seat has been lying vacant since June after the retirement of the grand old party Congress leader PJ Kurien.

On the other hand, the joint Opposition has fielded Congress' BK Hariprasad for the post.

Addressing to media reporters, Patnaik said he talked with Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) supremo Nitish Kumar about the same and is ready to back his party's candidate.

"Nitish Kumar has spoken to me. We will be supporting JD(U) candidate for the Rajya Sabha deputy chairman elections," Patnaik was quoted by the leading news agency ANI.

 Worth mention here Harivansh is a first time MP of JD (U), while Hariprasad is three-time parliamentarian of the Congress party. The RS Polls for the same will be held on the second last day of the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament on August 9 means today.(NT)