In a stunning display of political dominance, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has clinched all five seats in the Bihar Rajya Sabha elections. The decisive victory came down to a dramatic twist on the fifth seat, where the NDA overcame slim odds through strategic maneuvering and opposition disarray.
Bihar’s political landscape witnessed high-stakes drama as the NDA needed just three additional MLAs to secure the crucial fifth seat. What unfolded next was nothing short of a masterstroke. Four MLAs from the Mahagathbandhan alliance—two from Congress and two from RJD—remained conspicuously absent from the voting process. This unexpected no-show handed the NDA an unassailable advantage, pushing their candidate over the finish line.
The absent legislators included Surendra Kushwaha from Valmikinagar (Congress), Manoj Vishwas from Forbesganj (Congress), Manohar Singh from Manihari (Congress), and Faisal Rahman from Dhaka (RJD). Their failure to cast votes directly tilted the scales, allowing the NDA to claim a clean sweep despite the Mahagathbandhan’s frantic efforts to bolster numbers.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar led the pack with 44 first-preference votes, matched by Nitin Nabin. Upendra Kushwaha and Ramnath Thakur each garnered 42 votes, while the opposition’s AD Singh trailed with 37. JDU senior leader and minister Shrawan Kumar hailed the result as a testament to the alliance’s unity, noting that all 202 NDA MLAs turned out to vote without exception.
Accusations flew thick and fast from RJD leaders, who alleged foul play including MLA ‘buyouts’ and abductions. Yet, the numbers spoke louder than the rhetoric. The NDA’s disciplined turnout contrasted sharply with the opposition’s internal cracks.
Adding intrigue to the day, Mokama MLA Anant Singh dropped a bombshell announcement amid the polls. The firebrand legislator, currently out on parole after his arrest in a high-profile murder case, declared he would bow out of future elections if Nitish Kumar steps down as CM. ‘My children will contest instead,’ he asserted, underscoring his loyalty to the Bihar strongman.
This Rajya Sabha triumph reinforces the NDA’s iron grip on Bihar politics, signaling potential challenges ahead for the fragmented opposition as state elections loom on the horizon.