Race heats up for Bihar’s five Rajya Sabha seats with RJD entry

The political race for five Rajya Sabha seats in Bihar that go to the polls on March 16 has begun. The Nationwide Democratic Alliance (NDA), with a mixed power of 202 MLAs, can safe 4 seats by itself. Nevertheless, the Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal’s (RJD) determination to contest poses a problem to the ruling alliance’s bid to win all five seats. To safe the fifth seat, the NDA will want the assist of three legislators from the Opposition camp.

Of the five lawmakers finishing their tenure on April 9, three are from the NDA – Harivansh Narayan Singh and Ram Nath Thakur of the Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)], and Upendra Kushwaha of the Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) – and two from the RJD: Prem Chand Gupta and Amarendra Dhari Singh.

The final day for submitting nominations for the elections is March 5.

Mr. Harivansh is the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Mr. Thakur is the Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and son of late Bihar Chief Minister and veteran Socialist chief Karpoori Thakur, whereas Mr. Kushwaha heads the RLM.

Social gathering-wise power

Within the 2025 Meeting election, the NDA received 202 seats, RJD 25, Congress 6, Communist Social gathering of India (Marxist-Leninist) 2, Communist Social gathering of India (Marxist) 1, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) 5, and Bahujan Samaj Social gathering (BSP) and Indian Inclusive Social gathering secured one every. A candidate requires the assist of 41 MLAs within the 243-member Meeting to safe a seat within the Higher Home of Parliament.

The NDA is but to announce any of its candidates. In accordance with the thrill within the State’ political circles, the JD(U) is unlikely to renominate Mr. Harivansh whereas Mr. Thakur, who belongs to the Extraordinarily Backward Class, may get one other time period.

Nishant Kumar, son of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, is predicted to be nominated for the second seat amid clamour from a number of JD(U) leaders that he ought to enter politics. For the third seat, Bhojpuri actor Pawan Singh, who joined the BJP in October 2025, may be declared because the nominee rather than Mr. Kushwaha, who’s hoping to be renominated.

Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) chief and Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has additionally staked declare to at least one seat. He instructed mediapersons in Patna final week that the BJP had promised his celebration, a constituent of the NDA, a Rajya Sabha seat forward of the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

“We had been promised two Lok Sabha seats and one Rajya Sabha seat. We’re assured that the BJP management will honour its dedication,” he mentioned.

In the meantime, the RJD is prone to renominate Mr. Gupta, however identify Chief of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav because the candidate rather than Mr. Amarendra.

Although the Opposition celebration is prone to safe the assist of Mahagathbandhan allies just like the Congress and the Left events, their mixed tally nonetheless falls wanting the minimal quantity required for successful a Rajya Sabha seat.

The RJD is hoping that the AIMIM and BSP will prolong assist. Nevertheless, AIMIM State chief Akhtarul Iman has hinted that his celebration will likely be fielding its personal nominee for the ballot.

RJD leaders have declined to reveal their candidates and reiterated that the authorised management would take an acceptable determination. In a celebration assembly held at Mr. Yadav’s residence on Sunday, senior celebration leaders authorised him and celebration chief Lalu Prasad to take a ultimate name on the candidates for the ballot. “It’s for the highest celebration management to determine,” celebration spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari mentioned.