NDA Wins All 5 Rajya Sabha Seats in Bihar, Secures 2 in Odisha Amid Cross-Voting

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured a major political victory in the Rajya Sabha biennial elections by winning all five seats in Bihar and two seats in Odisha, strengthening its presence in the Upper House of Parliament. The results came after a day of intense political activity and allegations of cross-voting during the polling process.

The outcome has delivered a setback to the opposition Mahagathbandhan alliance in Bihar, while the Congress and other opposition parties raised concerns about irregularities and cross-voting during the elections.

NDA Sweeps Bihar Rajya Sabha Polls

In Bihar, the NDA fielded several prominent leaders for the Rajya Sabha seats, including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and BJP national president Nitin Nabin. Both candidates secured the required number of votes from members of the state legislative assembly.

Nitish Kumar received 44 votes, while Nitin Nabin also secured 44 votes, ensuring their victory in the Upper House election. Other NDA candidates also performed strongly during the polling.

Rashtriya Lok Morcha leader Upendra Kushwaha received 42 votes, and Ramnath Thakur secured the support of 42 legislators, allowing them to comfortably win their respective seats.

Tight Contest Decided by Second-Preference Votes

One of the most closely watched contests was between BJP candidate Shivesh Kumar and RJD candidate AD Singh. The contest eventually went in favour of Shivesh Kumar after the counting of second-preference votes.

AD Singh initially secured 37 first-preference votes, while Shivesh Kumar received 30 first-preference votes. However, the situation changed when second-preference votes were counted.

Shivesh Kumar’s total vote value increased to 4,202, while AD Singh finished with a total vote value of 3,700, leading to Kumar’s victory.

Opposition MLAs Skip Voting

The results also reflected a setback for the opposition alliance after four opposition MLAs reportedly skipped the voting process. Their absence played a crucial role in strengthening the NDA’s chances during the election.

Sources within the ruling alliance claimed that all 202 NDA legislators participated in the voting, ensuring a disciplined and coordinated performance during the poll.

NDA Also Wins Seats in Odisha

Apart from its strong performance in Bihar, the NDA also secured two Rajya Sabha seats in Odisha during the elections. Reports indicated that cross-voting by some opposition legislators contributed to the outcome.

The Odisha results further boosted the NDA’s position in the Rajya Sabha, where political parties often rely on support from state legislatures for representation.

Congress Alleges Irregularities

Following the results, Congress leaders criticised the outcome and alleged that political manoeuvring and cross-voting had influenced the elections.

Opposition leaders claimed that attempts were made to influence legislators during the voting process. However, leaders from the ruling alliance dismissed the allegations and described the victory as a result of strong political support.

Political Impact of the Results

The Rajya Sabha elections are important because they determine representation in the Upper House of Parliament. Members are elected by state legislators through a proportional representation system.

The NDA’s sweeping victory in Bihar and gains in Odisha are expected to strengthen the alliance’s legislative position in the Rajya Sabha.

The results also highlight the shifting political dynamics in state assemblies, where alliances, cross-voting, and strategic calculations often play a decisive role in determining outcomes.