Bihar Parties Gear Up for April 2026 Rajya Sabha Elections; Five Seats at Stake
NDA eyes clean sweep in Bihar Rajya Sabha elections.
Political parties in Bihar are intensifying preparations for the Rajya Sabha elections scheduled in April 2026, which will fill five seats becoming vacant upon the expiration of current members' terms. The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), holding a commanding 202 members in the 243-seat state assembly, can secure four seats without external support, given that victory requires a minimum of 41 first-preference votes per candidate under the proportional representation system.
The contest for the fifth seat introduces significant intrigue, as the NDA requires just three additional votes to achieve a complete sweep. In contrast, the opposition INDIA bloc, limited to 35 MLAs, falls six votes short of fielding even a single viable candidate, shifting focus to non-aligned legislators whose preferences could tip the balance.
Particular attention is drawn to the five MLAs from Asaduddin Owaisi's All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and one from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), who operate outside the primary coalitions. Political observers emphasize that their voting decisions will be scrutinized closely, potentially determining whether the NDA consolidates full control or encounters an unforeseen obstacle.
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The outgoing Rajya Sabha members from Bihar include RJD's Prem Chand Gupta and Amarendra Dhari Singh, JD(U)'s Harivansh (current Deputy Chairman) and Ram Nath Thakur (Union Minister and son of Karpoori Thakur), alongside Upendra Kushwaha of Rashtriya Lok Morcha. Nominations within the NDA may feature BJP's Nitin Nabin, renominations for Harivansh and Thakur, or emerging names like Bhojpuri singer-actor Pawan Singh, while Kushwaha's renomination remains uncertain despite his party's four seats.
Intra-alliance dynamics add further layers, with Hindustani Awam Morcha leader Jitan Ram Manjhi advocating for representation and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan likely pressing for a berth given his party's 19 MLAs. Sources suggest Reena Paswan, Chirag's mother, could emerge as a candidate, highlighting the negotiations underway to accommodate coalition partners in the Upper House selections.
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