In a massive political victory, the NDA alliance has swept the Rajya Sabha Elections Bihar 2026 by winning all five seats, delivering a major setback to the opposition Mahagathbandhan.
Top leaders including Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and BJP state president Nitin Nabin secured comfortable victories in the high-stakes contest.
NDA Candidates Dominate the Polls
Apart from Nitish Kumar and Nitin Nabin, other NDA winners include Union Minister of State Ram Nath Thakur, Upendra Kushwaha, and BJP leader Shivesh Ram.
Nitish Kumar and Nitin Nabin each secured 44 first-preference votes, while Thakur and Kushwaha received 42 votes each—comfortably crossing the required mark of 41 votes to enter the Rajya Sabha.
The fifth seat saw a tougher contest, where Shivesh Ram clinched victory with 30 votes, eventually defeating Mahagathbandhan candidate Amarendra Dhari Singh through second-preference votes.
Opposition Falls Short Despite Support
The opposition alliance, led by Tejashwi Yadav, struggled due to weak numbers and internal setbacks. Despite receiving support from AIMIM and BSP MLAs, the Mahagathbandhan managed only 37 votes—well below the required threshold.
The situation worsened after three Congress MLAs and one RJD MLA abstained from voting, dealing a critical blow to the opposition’s chances.
Abstentions Hurt Mahagathbandhan
Among those who did not vote was RJD MLA Faisal Rahman, who later clarified that he was unable to participate due to his mother’s ill health.
He said, “Nothing is bigger than mother’s health,” explaining his absence from the crucial voting process.
Numbers Game Clearly Favoured NDA
With 202 MLAs, the NDA was already in a strong position and needed only a few additional votes to secure all five seats. On the other hand, the Mahagathbandhan, with just 35 MLAs, required significant cross-voting to win even a single seat.
Despite last-minute optimism from Tejashwi Yadav after AIMIM’s support, the opposition failed to bridge the gap.
Big Political Message Ahead of Elections
The clean sweep by NDA sends a strong political signal ahead of upcoming electoral battles in Bihar. The result highlights not only the alliance’s numerical strength but also the opposition’s internal challenges.
With unity issues and abstentions costing them dearly, the Mahagathbandhan now faces serious questions about its strategy going forward.
