NDA Sweeps Bihar Rajya Sabha; Wins 3 in Odisha Amid Cross-Voting

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) achieved significant victories in the biennial Rajya Sabha elections held on Monday, March 16, 2026, sweeping all five contested seats in Bihar and securing three out of four seats in Odisha. These results notably bolster the NDA's representation in the Upper House of India's Parliament. In Bihar, the NDA registered a clean sweep, with all five of its candidates emerging victorious. The winning candidates from Bihar included Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and BJP national president Nitin Nabin. Other successful NDA candidates were Union Minister Ram Nath Thakur from JD(U), Rashtriya Lok Morcha chief Upendra Kushwaha, and BJP's Shivesh Kumar. This strong performance in Bihar was attributed to the NDA's robust numerical strength in the Bihar Legislative Assembly, where 202 MLAs from the alliance cast their votes. The opposition Mahagathbandhan in Bihar faced a setback, failing to secure any seat. Their candidate, A. D. Singh of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), lost the election. The opposition's efforts were further hampered by the absence of four MLAs during voting, including three from the Congress and one from the RJD. Bihar Congress President Rajesh Ram alleged that the BJP had 'abducted' these three Congress legislators, claiming they had been under house arrest since March 13. In Odisha, the electoral outcome was also favorable to the NDA, despite the original article's headline stating two seats. Multiple credible sources indicate that the BJP secured two official seats, and a BJP-backed independent candidate also triumphed, bringing the total effective wins for the NDA alliance to three out of the four contested Rajya Sabha seats. The victorious candidates from Odisha were Manmohan Samal and Sujeet Kumar from the Bharatiya Janata Party, and former Union Minister Dilip Ray, who won as an Independent candidate with BJP's backing. The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) secured one seat, won by Santrupt Mishra. The election in Odisha was marked by allegations of cross-voting, particularly from Opposition members, which significantly aided the BJP-backed candidates. Reports suggest that some Congress and BJD MLAs cross-voted in favor of Dilip Ray. This cross-voting and absenteeism among opposition legislators across both states underscored ongoing internal divisions within the opposition ranks. These biennial elections were part of a larger cycle to fill 37 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 states. While 26 candidates were elected unopposed earlier, polling was held for 11 seats, specifically five in Bihar, four in Odisha, and two in Haryana. The overall results of this round of elections have clearly strengthened the NDA's position, contributing to its efforts to gain a majority in the Upper House. The political drama extended to Haryana, where the counting for two seats was put on hold due to a controversy over alleged violations of vote secrecy and a Congress complaint to the Election Commission. The events of the day, including allegations of horse-trading, missing MLAs, and internal party disputes, highlighted the intense political maneuvering characteristic of Rajya Sabha elections.

Frequently Asked Questions

Read Full Story on Quick Digest