Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) legislator Faisal Rahman explained that he was unable to cast his vote during the Rajya Sabha elections held in Bihar on Monday because he had to urgently attend to his ailing mother. Rahman stated that although he had initially travelled to Patna to take part in the election process, he was forced to return to Delhi after receiving information that his mother’s health had worsened significantly.
In an exclusive interaction with India Today TV, Rahman said that his mother is currently in Delhi and has been unwell for some time. He mentioned that he had arrived in Patna with the intention of participating in the Rajya Sabha voting but had to rush back to the national capital when he learned about her deteriorating condition. The RJD MLA further clarified that the leadership of his party was fully informed about his situation and understood why he had to miss the voting. Emphasizing the importance of family during difficult times, Rahman remarked that nothing can be more important than one’s mother.
The voting for the Rajya Sabha elections in Bihar concluded at around 4 pm on Monday. The Mahagathbandhan alliance faced a setback during the polling as four of its MLAs did not participate in the voting process. Along with Faisal Rahman, three Congress legislators — Manohar Prasad, Surendra Kushwaha, and Manoj Vishwas — were also absent and did not cast their votes. Their absence meant that the alliance’s effective strength remained limited to 37 votes during the election.
On the other hand, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) managed to ensure complete participation from its side. All 202 MLAs belonging to the NDA were present and cast their votes in the election. With the opposition lacking the required numbers, the NDA’s fifth candidate, Shivesh Kumar, is expected to gain a significant advantage in the contest. According to estimates, Kumar is likely to receive around 38 votes, while the RJD’s candidate A. D. Singh may secure approximately 37 votes.
A total of six candidates were contesting for five available Rajya Sabha seats from Bihar in this election. Voting began at 9 am inside the Bihar Assembly complex and continued throughout the day before concluding in the afternoon. Out of the six candidates in the fray, five were supported by the ruling NDA, while one candidate was fielded by the opposition RJD.
The NDA candidates included Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar, Union minister Ram Nath Thakur, Rashtriya Lok Morcha chief Upendra Kushwaha, BJP leader Shivesh Kumar, and BJP national president Nitin Nabin. Meanwhile, the opposition Mahagathbandhan alliance had fielded Amarendra Dhari Singh as the RJD’s candidate for the Rajya Sabha seat.
Although the NDA had sufficient strength in the Assembly to comfortably secure four of the five seats, the contest for the fifth seat became more competitive after the opposition decided to nominate its own candidate. In the 243-member Bihar Legislative Assembly, any candidate contesting the Rajya Sabha election needs the backing of at least 41 MLAs to secure victory and win a seat in the Upper House of Parliament.
In the days leading up to the voting, the Mahagathbandhan had taken precautionary measures to prevent possible cross-voting or poaching by shifting its MLAs to a hotel in Patna. Meanwhile, the NDA also held meetings with its legislators to ensure unity and coordination before the polling. With the voting process now completed, the counting of votes is expected to begin shortly, and the final results are likely to be announced later in the evening.
