NDA Wins All Five Rajya Sabha Seats from Bihar

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured a clean sweep in the Rajya Sabha elections from Bihar, winning all five seats that were up for election. Among the winners was Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, along with BJP state president Nitin Nabin, Union minister Ram Nath Thakur, Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) president Upendra Kushwaha, and BJP state general secretary Shivesh Kumar. The results mark a significant political outcome in the state’s Upper House representation.

Victory declared after vote counting

The results were announced by the Bihar assembly secretary-cum-returning officer, Khyati Singh, after the counting of votes. Nitish Kumar and Nitin Nabin each secured 44 votes, while Ram Nath Thakur and Upendra Kushwaha received 42 votes each. Shivesh Kumar initially secured 30 first-preference votes but crossed the required threshold after counting of second-preference votes, ensuring victory for the NDA’s fifth candidate.

Opposition candidate suffers defeat

The Grand Alliance fielded a single candidate, Amarendra Dhari Singh of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), who lost the contest. His defeat came after four legislators from the opposition alliance did not participate in the voting process. The absent legislators included three from the Congress and one from the RJD. Their absence reduced the total number of votes required for victory and weakened the opposition’s prospects.

Voting pattern and required majority

According to the formula used for the Rajya Sabha election in Bihar, a candidate required at least 41 votes to win. However, due to the absence of four legislators during voting, the winning mark fell to 40 votes. While all 202 NDA legislators voted for their alliance candidates, only 37 members from the Grand Alliance cast their votes in favour of the RJD nominee.

Important Facts for Exams

• Rajya Sabha members are elected by elected members of state legislative assemblies through proportional representation by the single transferable vote system.
• Members of the Rajya Sabha serve a six-year term, with one-third retiring every two years.
• The current Rajya Sabha elections in Bihar were held to fill five vacancies arising due to retirements in April.
• The Rajya Sabha is the Upper House of India’s Parliament and represents the states and Union Territories.

Vacancies and political significance

The elections were held ahead of the retirement of five Rajya Sabha members from Bihar, including Prem Chand Gupta and Amarendra Dhari Singh of the RJD, Ram Nath Thakur and Deputy Chairperson Harivansh Narayan Singh of JD(U), and Upendra Kushwaha of the RLM. The poll was also notable as it elected the national presidents of three political parties—Nitish Kumar of JD(U), Nitin Nabin of BJP, and Upendra Kushwaha of RLM—to the Upper House. The state witnessed Rajya Sabha voting after a decade, with the previous voting taking place in the 2014 by-elections.