NDA Confident of Sweeping All Five Rajya Sabha Seats in Bihar as Political Activity Intensifies

By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: Political activity has intensified in Bihar ahead of the 2026 Rajya Sabha elections. On Thursday evening, key leaders of the NDA held an important meeting at the residence of Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, where detailed discussions were held on electoral strategy and the voting process. Newly elected MLAs were also briefed on the voting procedure. After the meeting, leaders claimed that all five Rajya Sabha seats would go to the NDA.

Following the meeting, Bihar minister Ashok Choudhary targeted the opposition, stating that the RJD would face a major setback and that the picture would become clear on the 16th. He claimed the NDA has surplus votes and that 12 MLAs from opposition parties are in contact with the alliance.

“The NDA has held its meeting and the RJD will face a setback. Everything will become clear on the 16th. We have extra votes — just wait. Twelve MLAs from opposition parties are in touch with us,” he said.

LJP (Ram Vilas) state president Raju Tiwari also expressed confidence in an NDA victory, stating that all five alliance candidates would win the election. Taking a swipe at Tejashwi Yadav, he said the latter had often made tall claims in the past.

“All five NDA candidates will win. Tejashwi Yadav had earlier claimed he would take oath as Chief Minister on the 18th after the Assembly elections. That itself shows how serious his statements are. Our five candidates will win,” he said.

Bihar minister Shravan Kumar said the meeting focused on explaining the entire voting process to legislators. He added that another meeting would be held on the 14th at the residence of Upendra Kushwaha. Criticising Tejashwi Yadav, he said the RJD leader had earlier made claims about becoming Chief Minister and even announced an oath-taking date.

“The voting process was explained in the meeting. Another meeting will be held on the 14th at Upendra Kushwaha’s residence. Tejashwi Yadav had even announced a date for his oath-taking as Chief Minister. Did that oath-taking happen? He keeps making such statements. He has no real understanding of Bihar,” he said.

Minister Lesi Singh said meetings of NDA constituents are routinely held before elections to brief MLAs about the voting procedure. She asserted that the alliance has the majority and will win all five seats.

“Before elections, meetings of NDA constituents are held to explain the electoral process. MLAs were informed about how to cast their votes and about the entire procedure. We will win all five Rajya Sabha seats. The majority is with us,” she said.

BJP MLA Maithili Thakur said several legislators would be voting in a Rajya Sabha election for the first time, and the meeting was held to ensure they fully understood the procedure and had no confusion. Bihar ministers Ramkripal Yadav and Zama Khan also expressed confidence in an NDA victory, saying all MLAs would unite to ensure the success of the alliance’s five candidates.

“These disciplinary and internal meetings of the NDA are held regularly. Today, ministers, MLAs and leaders of the alliance attended the meeting. Training was provided regarding the Rajya Sabha election. Many MLAs are first-time voters in such an election, so the entire process was explained to remove any doubts,” she said.

JD(U) state president Umesh Kushwaha said the NDA Legislature Party meeting was held in preparation for the election scheduled on the 16th, during which the voting process was discussed. He said that regardless of the Mahagathbandhan’s claims, all five seats would go to the NDA.

“The Rajya Sabha election will be held on the 16th, so the NDA Legislature Party meeting discussed the election process. All five seats will go to the NDA. Whatever the Mahagathbandhan may claim, it will not win. The NDA will perform strongly and all legislators will vote unitedly,” he said.

Meanwhile, RJD MLA Bhai Virendra rejected the NDA’s claims, stating that MLAs who believe in secular ideology stand with the Mahagathbandhan. He claimed their numbers could rise from 45 to 50 and asserted that the fifth seat would also be won by the alliance.

“Those who believe in secular values will vote for our party, our candidate and our Mahagathbandhan and INDIA alliance. We already have the numbers we needed, and our strength may increase from 45 to 50. We are winning the election — the fifth seat is ours and no one can take it away,” he said.

With both the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan claiming victory in Bihar’s Rajya Sabha elections, the final outcome will become clear only after voting takes place on the March 16.