Bihar's Rajya Sabha Election Heads to Vote as Six Candidates Vie for Five Seats
In a significant political development, all six candidates for the five Rajya Sabha seats from Bihar remain officially in the contest after no withdrawals were made by the Monday deadline. This sets the stage for a rare voting process on March 16, breaking a 12-year streak of uncontested elections.
No Withdrawals Lead to Contested Election
A Bihar assembly official confirmed that no candidate came forward to withdraw their nomination by Monday evening, March 9. Consequently, all six aspirants are now formally in the fray, necessitating a vote to determine the winners for the five available seats.
This election marks Bihar's first Rajya Sabha contest requiring voting since the 2014 byelections. During that period, JD(U) nominees Pavan Kumar Varma and Gulam Rasool Balyawi secured victories over BJP-backed independent candidates, despite instances of cross-voting by some party MLAs. Since then, all biennial and byelections to the Rajya Sabha from Bihar have been decided unopposed, as the number of candidates consistently matched the number of vacancies.
Candidates and Political Alliances
The six candidates represent a mix of ruling and opposition parties. Five belong to the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), while one hails from the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).
NDA Candidates:
- Nitish Kumar: Chief Minister and JD(U) president
- Nitin Nabin: BJP national president
- Ram Nath Thakur: Union minister from JD(U), seeking a third consecutive term
- Upendra Kushwaha: RLM president, aiming for a second straight term
- Shivesh Kumar: BJP state general secretary and former MLA, making his Rajya Sabha debut
Opposition Candidate:
- Amarendra Dhari Singh: RJD's sitting MP and businessman-turned-politician
Electoral Dynamics and MLA Support
Under the electoral formula for Rajya Sabha polls in Bihar, a candidate requires the support of at least 41 MLAs to secure victory. The political landscape following the November assembly elections last year shows the NDA with 202 seats in the 243-member House. In contrast, the RJD, Congress, and Left parties together hold 35 seats.
With its strength of 202 MLAs, the NDA is confident of winning all five seats if it can secure the backing of three additional MLAs from smaller parties. This strategic move could solidify their dominance in the Upper House representation from Bihar.
BJP's Observers and Broader Implications
Meanwhile, the BJP has appointed Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma and Union Minister of State Harsh Malhotra as central observers for Bihar. BJP national president Nitin Nabin has named these two along with other party leaders for similar roles in two additional states, indicating a coordinated approach to the upcoming elections.
The upcoming vote on March 16 is poised to be a closely watched event, as it not only determines the Rajya Sabha composition but also reflects the current political alignments and strategies in Bihar. The outcome could have implications for national politics, given the significance of the Rajya Sabha in legislative processes.
