NDA sweeps all five Bihar Rajya Sabha seats; Opposition falters

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured a clean sweep of all five Rajya Sabha seats in Bihar on Monday, aided by a strategic allocation of votes for the fifth seat. The Opposition, meanwhile, failed to ensure full participation, with four of its 41 legislators abstaining from voting.

The victorious NDA candidates are Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar, who will step down from the state post to enter the Upper House, BJP national president Nitin Nabin, Union Minister Ram Nath Thakur, BJP leader Shivesh Kumar, and Rashtriya Lok Morcha chief Upendra Kushwaha.

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Opposition MLAs including Manoj Biswas, Surendra Kushwaha, Manohar Prasad Singh of the Congress, and Faisal Rahman were absent during voting.

Bihar Congress President Rajesh Ram alleged that the BJP had abducted the three Congress MLAs, claiming they had been placed under house arrest despite being in contact since March 13.

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Vote counting began at 5:00 p.m., with NDA candidates Nitish Kumar, Nitin Nabin, Ram Nath Thakur, and Upendra Kushwaha winning on first-preference votes. BJP leader Shivesh Ram secured victory in the second-preference round, completing the clean sweep for the NDA.

Mahagathbandhan candidate A. D. Singh received 38 votes. The Assembly, with 243 seats, elected five members to the Rajya Sabha, where the NDA’s numerical strength proved decisive despite six candidates contesting.