Bihar’s political landscape is heating up with Rajya Sabha polls on the horizon. Jitan Ram Manjhi, the fiery leader of Hindustani Awam Morcha and a key NDA ally, is digging in his heels for a guaranteed Upper House seat, invoking a solemn pledge from the BJP.
Speaking candidly to reporters in Gaya, Manjhi recounted the assurances given by senior BJP figures prior to the 2024 general elections: two seats in the Lok Sabha and one in Rajya Sabha. HAM fulfilled its end by winning the lone Lok Sabha seat allotted, yet the Rajya Sabha slot lingers in limbo.
‘We’ve stood by the NDA, and now it’s time they honor their word. One Rajya Sabha seat is the bare minimum,’ he declared, underscoring the contributions of his party founded post-2015.
Five seats are up for grabs in Bihar as incumbents’ terms expire in April: two from JD(U), two from RJD, and one from ally RLJM’s Upendra Kushwaha. The NDA’s dominance in the state assembly positions them favorably for three wins.
Election timelines are tight—nominations close March 5, scrutiny follows March 6, withdrawals by March 9, and voting on March 16. No candidate names have emerged from the NDA camp yet.
Opposition woes mount for RJD-led Mahagathbandhan, holding only 35 assembly seats against the required 41 for a win. Hopes now pivot to unsolicited backing from AIMIM and BSP, untested waters for the bloc that includes Congress, CPI(ML), and CPI(M).
Manjhi’s public nudge signals potential friction within NDA ranks, as allies jostle for prime parliamentary positions just months after Bihar’s assembly polls.