Rajya Sabha Elections in Bihar Enter Critical Phase as NDA Faces Unity Test
Patna: The biennial elections for five Rajya Sabha seats from Bihar have intensified, with just 48 hours remaining until polling day on March 16. Pressure is mounting on the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners, particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Janata Dal (United) or JD(U), and Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM), to maintain cohesion among their 202 MLAs and prevent any signs of desertion.
Strategic Meetings and High-Level Coordination
NDA MLAs convened a crucial meeting at the residence of Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Samrat Choudhary on Thursday. The gathering aimed to inform and train newly elected NDA MLAs about the intricacies of the Rajya Sabha election process. Earlier this week, Samrat Choudhary met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Bagdogra, West Bengal, underscoring the strategic importance of these polls.
Two additional meetings are scheduled to reinforce alliance unity. The first will occur on Saturday at the residence of RLM chief and sitting Rajya Sabha member Upendra Kushwaha, who is the BJP's third candidate in the race. The second meeting is set for the following day at the home of JD(U) senior leader and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary. A directive has been issued mandating all NDA MLAs to remain present in Patna for both events, highlighting the alliance's focus on solidarity.
Electoral Dynamics and Candidate Landscape
Among the five outgoing Rajya Sabha members from Bihar, two each belong to the JD(U) and the rival Grand Alliance's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), with Upendra Kushwaha being the fifth. Technically, a candidate requires the support of 41 MLAs to secure victory. The BJP, with 89 MLAs, and JD(U), with 85, could easily ensure the election of four candidates from their side. However, the BJP's decision to field a third candidate, Kushwaha, has transformed the election into a contested battle rather than a unanimous process.
The sixth candidate in the fray is RJD's sitting member Amarendra Dhari Singh, adding to the competitive atmosphere. Kushwaha's victory hinges on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's ability to keep JD(U) MLAs united and on Samrat Choudhary's mobilisation efforts, as the RLM nominee needs three votes from outside the NDA fold through cross-voting to succeed.
Confident Claims and Political Posturing
On Friday, BJP MLA Mithilesh Tiwari and party spokesman Prem Ranjan Patel asserted that all five NDA candidates would emerge victorious. Conversely, JD(U) minister Ashok Choudhary stated on Thursday that the NDA actually enjoys the support of 12 MLAs from the Grand Alliance, suggesting potential defections.
RLM MLA Madhav Anand echoed this confidence, telling reporters, "All I can say is that we have the number. Our (NDA's) chemistry is strong, and our arithmetic, too, is right. All the five NDA candidates will win." These statements reflect the high-stakes nature of the elections and the intense political maneuvering underway.
As the clock ticks down to March 16, all eyes are on Patna, where the NDA's unity and strategic acumen will be put to the test in a contest that could reshape Bihar's political landscape in the Rajya Sabha.
