The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won all five seats in the Bihar Rajya Sabha elections 2026, showing strong political control in the state. The Opposition suffered a major setback as several of its MLAs did not attend voting.
One of the key winners is Nitish Kumar, leader of Janata Dal United, who is set to enter the Rajya Sabha after stepping down as Bihar Chief Minister. Other winners include Nitin Nabin, Union minister Ram Nath Thakur, Shivesh Kumar, and Upendra Kushwaha.
The Opposition, led by Rashtriya Janata Dal and supported by the Indian National Congress, could not perform well due to absenteeism. Four MLAs—three from Congress and one from RJD—did not vote. This reduced their total strength from 41 to 37, making it easier for the NDA to win the fifth seat.
The NDA had enough numbers to win four seats easily. However, it used a smart strategy to secure the fifth seat by depending on second preference votes. During counting, Shivesh Kumar crossed the required number of votes in the third round, ensuring victory.
After the results, political reactions became strong. Tejashwi Yadav said the Opposition had more first preference votes but still could not win. Meanwhile, Rajesh Ram raised concerns about possible political pressure and said action may be taken against absent MLAs.
The NDA’s strong position in the 243-member Bihar Assembly, with 202 MLAs, played a big role in its success. Despite attempts by the Opposition to gather support from smaller parties, it was not enough.
Meanwhile, JD(U) has announced internal elections, and Nitish Kumar is likely to continue as party president while moving to a national role.
