Voting for five Rajya Sabha seats from Bihar is scheduled to take place on March 16, with six candidates contesting the election and political activity intensifying ahead of the polling day. With more candidates than available seats, the election has attracted significant attention, and parties have begun consolidating their legislators in order to avoid any possibility of cross-voting.
The voting process will take place from 9 am to 5 pm at a designated polling station set up within the Bihar Assembly complex in Patna. Members of the Legislative Assembly will cast their votes during this period. Once the polling concludes, the counting of votes will begin later the same evening, and the results are expected to be announced on the same day.
The contest involves candidates from multiple political parties and alliances. The Bharatiya Janata Party has nominated its national president Nitin Naveen along with Shivesh Kumar as its candidates for the Upper House. The Janata Dal (United) has fielded Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Ramnath Thakur. Rashtriya Lok Morcha president Upendra Kushwaha is also in the fray as a candidate supported by the National Democratic Alliance. Representing the opposition Grand Alliance, the Rashtriya Janata Dal has nominated AD Singh as its candidate.
With six candidates competing for five seats, the election has become closely watched, and political parties have begun taking precautionary measures to ensure their legislators remain united. Ahead of the vote, political activity in Patna intensified, with opposition parties consolidating their MLAs to avoid possible defections or cross-voting.
Leaders of the Grand Alliance arranged for their MLAs to stay together at a hotel in the state capital, a practice commonly referred to in Indian politics as “hotel politics.” The legislators were accommodated at Hotel Panache in Patna, where Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav met them before the election.
According to party leaders, the MLAs were asked to remain together at the hotel overnight before heading to the Assembly complex to cast their votes. The move was intended to ensure unity within the alliance and prevent any last-minute political manoeuvring before the polling.
RJD MLA Bhai Virendra expressed confidence about the alliance’s position in the election. He stated that the Grand Alliance currently enjoys the support of 48 MLAs and believes it has the numbers required to secure success in the contest.
Meanwhile, the state administration has stated that all necessary preparations have been completed to ensure that the election process is conducted smoothly and fairly. Officials have said that arrangements for security and logistical management at the polling venue have already been finalised.
Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Kartikeya Kumar Sharma confirmed that law enforcement agencies are prepared to maintain order during the voting process. He said that authorities would remain vigilant to ensure that the election proceeds without disruption.
According to Sharma, the administration will keep a close watch on the entire process to prevent any irregularities. He also warned that strict legal action would be taken if anyone attempts to create disturbances or interfere with the voting.
With political alliances closely monitoring their legislators and the numbers game under scrutiny, the Rajya Sabha election in Bihar is expected to be closely contested. The outcome of the voting on March 16 will determine which five candidates ultimately secure seats in the Upper House of Parliament.
