BJP Announces 9 Rajya Sabha Candidates, Nitin Nabin Nominated From Bihar

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday officially announced its list of nine candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections across six states. The nominations cover key battlegrounds including Bihar, Haryana, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Assam, while according to the schedule released by the Election Commission, the deadline for filing nominations is March 5, with the polling and counting of votes set to take place on March 15. This announcement marks a significant step in the party's strategy to strengthen its presence in the Upper House of Parliament.

Bihar Nominations and NDA Alliance Strategy

In Bihar, the BJP has fielded senior leader and state minister Nitin Nabin along with Shivesh Ram as its official candidates for the Rajya Sabha. Also, as part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) agreement, Upendra Kushwaha, the chief of the Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM), has been named the NDA candidate. Kushwaha is expected to file his nomination papers on March 5. The selection of these candidates reflects the alliance's focus on maintaining a balance of regional and social representation within the state's political framework as they prepare for the upcoming electoral challenge.

Candidate Profiles Across Other States

Beyond Bihar, the BJP has strategically placed candidates in five other states. In Haryana, the party has nominated Sanjay Bhatia, while in West Bengal, Rahul Sinha has been chosen to represent the party. For Chhattisgarh, the BJP has fielded Laxmi Verma. In Odisha, the party has nominated its state president Manmohan Samal along with Sujit Kumar, indicating a push to consolidate its organizational strength in the region. From the northeastern state of Assam, Taras Gowala and Jaganmohan have been named as the party's choices for the Upper House. The party is yet to announce its candidates for Maharashtra, which is expected in the next phase.

Current Rajya Sabha Vacancies in Bihar

The political atmosphere in Bihar is intensifying as the terms of five Rajya Sabha members are set to expire in April. The outgoing members include Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Harivansh Narayan Singh, Premchand Gupta, Union Minister Ramnath Thakur, Amrendra Dhari Singh, and Upendra Kushwaha. Currently, Harivansh Narayan Singh and Ramnath Thakur represent the Janata Dal (United), while Premchand Gupta and Amrendra Dhari Singh are from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Upendra Kushwaha represents the Rashtriya Lok Morcha. The upcoming elections will determine the new composition of Bihar's representation in the Rajya Sabha.

Electoral Arithmetic and the Fifth Seat Contest

Based on the current strength of the Bihar Legislative Assembly following the 2025 elections, the NDA is comfortably positioned to secure four out of the five vacant seats. However, the contest for the fifth seat has become a focal point of political discussion. To secure the fifth seat, the NDA would require the support of at least three additional MLAs beyond its current confirmed numbers. With the BJP having announced two candidates and the JDU holding two seats, the final outcome for the fifth position will depend on the alignment of independent legislators and the strategy adopted by the opposition parties.

Election Timeline and Procedural Details

The Election Commission has established a clear timeline for the Rajya Sabha polls. Following the nomination deadline on March 5, the scrutiny of papers will take place, followed by the window for withdrawal of candidatures. On March 15, voting will be conducted from the morning hours, and the counting of votes will commence the same evening. Political parties are reportedly taking measures to ensure internal cohesion among their legislators to prevent any instances of cross-voting, which could alter the expected results in states where the margins are narrow.

भारतीय जनता पार्टी की केंद्रीय चुनाव समिति ने विभिन्न प्रदेशों में होने वाले राज्यसभा के द्विवार्षिक चुनाव हेतु निम्नलिखित नामों पर अपनी स्वीकृति प्रदान की है। pic.twitter.com/38I3mo5KMb

— BJP (@BJP4India) March 3, 2026