In a bold political maneuver, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has upped the ante for Bihar’s Rajya Sabha polls by fielding a candidate of his own. Set against the backdrop of March 16 elections across 10 states for 37 seats, this development particularly disrupts RJD’s strategy in Bihar, where five crucial seats are up for grabs.
The state’s 16 Rajya Sabha seats see retirements from key figures: JD(U)’s Harivansh Narayan Singh and Ram Nath Thakur, RJD’s Prem Chand Gupta and Amarendra Dhari Singh, plus Upendra Kushwaha of Rashtriya Lok Morcha. NDA’s dominance in the assembly positions them to bag four seats effortlessly.
Opposition’s Grand Alliance musters 35 MLAs: RJD with 25, Congress 6, CPI(ML) Liberation 2, and singles from CPI and Indian Inclusive Party. The magic number for one seat is 41 votes—a threshold barely reachable with AIMIM’s five and BSP’s one MLA on board.
Yet, AIMIM’s Bihar unit head Akhtarul Iman has proclaimed their candidacy, calling on RJD and allies for backing. This comes amid lingering resentment from 2020, when RJD rebuffed AIMIM’s overtures for assembly poll alliance. The snub led to acrimonious exchanges, culminating in AIMIM’s five-seat haul against RJD’s 25.
RJD was eyeing a repeat nomination for Amarendra Dhari Singh, sources say. Now, Owaisi’s intervention risks splitting Muslim votes, a vital constituency for the opposition. Analysts see this as payback politics, potentially handing NDA an unopposed fifth seat.
With alliances fluid and numbers razor-thin, Bihar’s Rajya Sabha battle underscores the fragility of opposition unity. AIMIM’s play could redefine power equations in the upper house, forcing RJD into desperate damage control.