By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: Bhagwan Singh Kushwaha has filed his nomination as the NDA candidate for the by-election to fill a vacant seat in the Bihar Legislative Council. Present during his nomination were Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, and other prominent leaders of the alliance. The Grand Alliance is unlikely to field a candidate for this seat, making Kushwaha’s unopposed election almost certain.
Kushwaha submitted his nomination at the Vidhan Sabha, accompanied by key NDA leaders. This by-election follows the disqualification of RJD MLC Rambali Singh, whose membership was canceled by Legislative Council Chairman Devesh Chandra Thakur on February 6. Elections for this vacant seat are scheduled for July 12.
The Election Commission announced elections for a total of five Legislative Council seats across Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Bihar, with the notification issued on June 25. Today, July 2, is the last day for filing nomination papers, which will be scrutinized on July 3. Nomination withdrawals are allowed until July 5. Voting will take place on July 12 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, with the results announced the same day.
Given the NDA’s strong position in the Bihar Legislative Assembly, where they hold an absolute majority, Kushwaha’s unopposed election appears inevitable. The Bihar Legislative Council consists of 75 members, with 2 seats currently vacant. With Legislative Council Chairman Devesh Chandra Thakur resigning after winning a Lok Sabha seat, one seat will remain vacant even after this election.
