There is a tough competition in the Rajya Sabha elections in Bihar. Elections are being held on five seats, in which six candidates are in the fray. Five of these candidates are from NDA, which includes Nitish Kumar and BJP President Nitin Naveen. One candidate is from RJD, whose future is in the hands of AIMIM.
According to Bihar Assembly Secretary Khyati Singh, none of the six candidates withdrew their nomination papers, necessitating voting for the first time in more than a decade in the state. There will be a close contest for one seat in the state, as RJD has again nominated businessman-turned-politician Amarendra Dhari Singh as its candidate. NDA candidates from Bihar include Union ministers Ramnath Thakur, Upendra Kushwaha and Shivesh Kumar.
What is the situation?
There are five seats in Bihar. 41 votes are required for each seat. NDA has 202 MLAs. It needs 205 votes to win all five seats. Grand Alliance has 35 MLAs. AIMIM has five MLAs and BSP has one MLA. If all these come together, the opposition can win one seat. However, if cross-voting occurs, the Grand Alliance may face difficulties.
Tejashwi called a meeting of MLA
RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav called a meeting of Grand Alliance MLAs on Tuesday to discuss the election strategy of the alliance. Speaking to the media after the meeting, Tejashwi said, “It was a very positive meeting. Rajya Sabha elections are approaching, and we are confident of victory. We have enough numbers, that is why we are contesting the elections.” Three Congress MLAs could not attend the meeting due to different reasons. All three MLAs had informed the party about this.
Will there be any deal between RJD and AIMIM?
AIMIM has five MLAs in the assembly, and it is not clear whom they will support. Iman said that AIMIM has not yet decided whom it will support in the Rajya Sabha elections. He said that six candidates are contesting on five seats in Bihar, which means that voting will be necessary. “If there were five candidates, the elections would not have taken place. Now that there are six, voting will take place, and we are looking at the situation,” he said.
Referring to the meeting held with Tejashwi Yadav a few days ago, Iman said that the RJD leader had approached AIMIM for support. According to him, AIMIM had stressed that it does not have representation in the Upper House and it expects cooperation. Iman further said that Tejashwi Yadav had promised further talks after returning from Delhi, but no follow-up meeting took place. According to reports, AIMIM is demanding MLC seat in return for supporting the opposition candidate in the Rajya Sabha elections.
Whom will BSP support?
Everyone’s eyes are also on whom BSP will support in this election. The party’s lone MLA Satish Kumar Singh Yadav said that the party high command will decide which alliance’s Rajya Sabha candidate the BSP will support. NDA has 202 MLAs in Bihar Assembly, due to which it has got majority. However, it fell three MLAs short of winning all five Rajya Sabha seats. At the same time, the Grand Alliance needs six MLAs to win the Rajya Sabha seat.