In a significant political development on February 20, 2024, all six Rajya Sabha candidates from Bihar have secured their seats in the Upper House of Parliament without opposition. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) each now have two members, with one member each from the Janata Dal (United) and the Congress party. BJP’s Bhim Singh and Dharmsheela Gupta, along with RJD’s Manoj Jha and Sanjay Yadav, JD(U)’s Sanjay Jha, and Congress’s Akhilesh Prasad Singh were the elected candidates.
The State Congress president Akhilesh Prasad Singh, along with the JD(U)’s close associate of the Chief Minister Sanjay Jha, who served as a Minister in the Cabinet of the grand alliance government, filed their nominations on February 15. They were elected alongside established politicians such as RJD’s Manoj Jha and Sanjay Yadav, and BJP’s State vice-president Bhim Singh and State women’s wing president Dharmsheela Gupta. These results arrived after some speculation about possible BJP strategies to challenge RJD and Congress coalition, which ultimately did not materialize.
Nationwide, the recent Rajya Sabha elections saw 41 candidates elected unopposed, including prominent figures such as Sonia Gandhi from Rajasthan, BJP chief J P Nadda, Union ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and L Murugan. The BJP secured the highest number of seats with 20, while the Congress clinched 6 seats. Elections for the remaining seats in Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and Himachal Pradesh are scheduled for February 27, with simultaneous nominations and counting processes planned.
Additionally, key political figures such as Jaya Bachchan from the Samajwadi Party, former Union minister R P N Singh, and several others are slated to contest for the seats in the upcoming polls. In Karnataka, the contest is also heating up with five candidates vying for four seats. The BJP has pushed for a contest in Himachal Pradesh despite lacking sufficient MLAs by fielding Harsh Mahajan against the Congress’s nominee.
The recent political maneuvers and election outcomes not only shape the immediate composition of the Rajya Sabha but also provide insights into party strategies and alliances as India approaches the Lok Sabha elections. With the tenure for the newly elected members starting after April 6, the dynamics in the Upper House of Parliament are set to involve a blend of seasoned politicians and new entrants, reflecting the ongoing evolution of India’s political landscape.