The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) achieved a clean sweep in the Rajya Sabha elections from Bihar, winning all five seats that were up for election. Among the victorious candidates were Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitin Nabin of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Union minister Ram Nath Thakur, Upendra Kushwaha, president of the Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM), and BJP leader Shivesh Kumar.
The results were officially declared by returning officer Khyati Singh after the counting of votes. Nitish Kumar and Nitin Nabin secured 44 votes each, while Ram Nath Thakur and Upendra Kushwaha received 42 votes each. Shivesh Kumar initially obtained 30 first-preference votes but later crossed the required threshold after the counting of second-preference votes, ensuring victory for the NDA’s fifth candidate.
The opposition Grand Alliance fielded Amarendra Dhari Singh of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), who was defeated in the contest. His chances were weakened after four opposition legislators — three from the Indian National Congress and one from the RJD — did not participate in the voting process.
Under the single transferable vote system used for Rajya Sabha elections, a candidate originally required 41 votes to win. However, due to the absence of four legislators, the effective winning mark fell to 40 votes. With all 202 NDA legislators casting their votes, the alliance comfortably secured all five seats, strengthening its representation from Bihar in the Upper House of Parliament.
