Voting for Bihar’s Rajya Sabha elections commenced Monday at the state assembly in Patna, drawing top leaders from across the spectrum. From 9 AM, MLAs began casting ballots for five contested seats, with the spotlight firmly on whether the opposition can snatch the fifth from NDA’s grasp. Political corridors echo with dueling victory assertions.
In the 243-MLA house, victory requires 41 votes. NDA’s 202-strong bloc guarantees four seats for Nitish Kumar, Nityanand Rai, Ram Nath Thakur, Sushil Kumar Modi, and Upendra Kushwaha. Yet, the fifth hinges on swing votes. Mahagathbandhan, with RJD’s Amarendra Dhari Singh as candidate and 35 MLAs, banks on BSP and AIMIM’s six votes to hit the magic number.
AIMIM’s Sunday endorsement has bolstered opposition hopes. Eyewitnesses spotted Tejashwi Yadav, Akhtarul Iman, Speaker Prem Kumar, and ministers like Vijay Chaudhary and Mangal Pandey at the venue. Retiring senators include Singh, Gupta, Thakur, Kushwaha, and Harivansh.
NDA remains unfazed, leveraging its numbers, while Mahagathbandhan intensifies MLA huddles. This election underscores Bihar’s fractured alliances post recent political shifts. As the day unfolds, every vote counts toward reshaping the Upper House representation. Results later today could signal future assembly maneuvers.