Problem of plenty for NDA as 5 Bihar Rajya Sabha seats go to polls
Two of the five retired members of RJD are AD Singh and Premchand Gupta. JDU’s Ramnath Thakur and Harivansh are also completing their terms along with Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) chief Upendra Kushwaha.
Sources said JD(U) is likely to retain its two seats. While Union minister Ramnath Thakur is expected to be re-nominated, a decision is awaited on Harivansh, who is currently Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Replacing him could weaken the JD(U)’s claim to the Vice President post, especially since the TDP, a key NDA ally at the Centre, is in a position to stake a claim. The final call is expected to be made next week.
While JD(U) retained two seats, BJP is eyeing the other two in its quota. Party sources stated that Bhojpuri actor Pavan Singh is being considered for one spot, while the latter could go for a non-Yadav OBC face. Senior leaders are scheduled to meet on February 27 or 28 to finalize the names.
The competition for the fifth seat comes down to numbers. Each candidate must receive 41 votes. While four seats are within the NDA’s guaranteed figure, it will need the support of at least three additional MLAs for the fifth. A united Opposition, including five AIMIM MLAs and one BSP legislator, could force a contest. However, AIMIM has indicated that it may field its own candidate, making the unity of the Opposition uncertain. The NDA will remain ahead for the fifth seat if it secures cross-polling.
It has been reported that the seat-sharing understanding during the Assembly elections saw the Rajya Sabha promising to give seat to Upendra Kushwaha along with the MLC candidacy. Kushwaha has since contested the MLC seat for his son Deepak Prakash, who is currently a minister in the Bihar government. BJP sources stated that the MLC vacancy created by Mangal Pandey’s election as MLA could be considered for Deepak Prakash, but this could trigger further talks on Kushwaha’s Rajya Sabha claim.
Meanwhile, LJP (Ram Vilas) chief and Union minister Chirag Paswan denied that he wanted a Rajya Sabha seat for his mother Reena Paswan, but party leader and state minister Sanjay Kumar Singh raised the demand. LJP (RV), the third largest NDA constituent in Bihar, believes it has a legitimate stake in the allocation.
