37 Rajya Sabha Seats Go To Polls Today; Key Leaders Nitish Kumar, Nitin Nabin Contest The Rajya Sabha elections are set for Monday, with voting required for 11 seats in Bihar, Odisha, and Haryana, while 26 seats across seven states will go unopposed. A total of 37 seats are up for grabs, including seven in Maharashtra, six in Tamil Nadu, five in West Bengal, three in Assam, and two each in Chhattisgarh, Haryana, and Telangana. The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), in power in six states, holds 134 seats, while the opposition Indian National Congress (INC) bloc, governing four states, has 80 seats. The polls are critical for shaping the balance of power in the upper house of Parliament. Key leaders from both major parties are contesting the elections. Nitish Kumar, the former Chief Minister of Bihar and leader of the Janata Dal (United), is vying for a seat in the Rajya Sabha. Similarly, Nitin Nabin, a prominent leader from the Trinamool Congress, is also running in the fray. The outcome of these elections is expected to influence legislative priorities and policy directions in the coming months. The unopposed seats, which account for 26 of the 37, are primarily in states where the ruling party has a clear majority. However, the contested seats in Bihar, Odisha, and Haryana are seen as battlegrounds where political alliances and voter sentiment could shift the dynamics. Analysts suggest that the results may reflect the broader political landscape, with the NDA and INC vying for dominance in key states. The elections come at a time of heightened political activity, with both parties mobilizing resources and campaign strategies. The outcome is likely to have implications for the government’s legislative agenda, including major bills and policy initiatives.#rajya_sabha #indian_national_congress #nitish_kumar #nitin_nabin #national_democratic_alliance
BJP Nominates Nitin Nabin for Rajya Sabha Polls from Bihar The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced on Tuesday (March 3, 2026) that its national president, Nitin Nabin, has been nominated as the party’s candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections from Bihar. This nomination requires Nabin to resign from his position in the Bihar Legislative Assembly, where he currently serves, and transition to a full-time role in Delhi, a necessary step for the party’s national leadership. Shivesh Kumar, a former BJP MLA from Bihar and a leader representing the Ravidas community, has been named as the party’s second nominee from the state. He is the son of Munni Lal, a former IAS officer and minister in the Vajpayee government. The BJP and the Janata Dal (U), an NDA ally, are contesting two Rajya Sabha seats each from Bihar. The alliance is expected to secure the fifth seat if it secures support from three opposition candidates. Upendra Kushwaha, the chief of the Rashtriya Lok Morcha and an NDA ally, has been nominated as the fifth candidate and is likely to receive backing from the alliance. The Election Commission will conduct biennial Rajya Sabha elections for 37 seats across 10 states on March 16. Nominations from Assam and West Bengal indicate that new candidates will be fielded for the state assembly elections, with key leaders being moved to Delhi. In Assam, Jogen Mohan, a minister in the Himanta Biswa Sarma government, and Terash Gowala, an MLA from Duliajan, have been nominated. Both are closely associated with Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. Mohan represents Mahmara in Upper Assam, while Gowala, from the tea garden workers’ community, is an MLA from Duliajan, a significant oil township.#rajya_sabha #bharatiya_janata_party #nitin_nabin #bihar_legislative_assembly #shivesh_kumar
BJP Announces 9 Rajya Sabha Candidates, Bihar Becomes Key Battleground in NDA's 2026 Election Strategy The Bharatiya Janata Party has released its initial list of nine candidates for the 2026 Rajya Sabha elections, marking a significant step in the political landscape ahead of the biennial polls. The announcement underscores Bihar as a critical state where the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is likely to face intense competition. The party’s central election committee has cleared the names, setting the stage for a strategic contest in several states. In Bihar, the BJP has nominated Nitin Nabin and Shivesh Kumar. Nabin, currently an MLA from the Bankipur Assembly constituency, will need to resign from his legislative seat upon joining the Rajya Sabha, triggering an inevitable by-election in Bankipur. A prominent figure within the state’s organizational structure, Nabin belongs to the Kayastha community. His candidacy highlights the party’s focus on maintaining its influence in the state. The second Bihar nominee, Shivesh Kumar, comes from a Scheduled Caste background. A former MLA, Kumar contested the Sasaram Lok Sabha seat in 2024 but lost the election. His background as a former IAS officer and son of former BJP MP Munilal Ram adds layers to his political profile. The announcement has also raised questions about Upendra Kushwaha, a key figure in Bihar politics. With the BJP fielding two candidates from the state, speculation persists about whether Kushwaha will emerge as a fifth NDA nominee. If so, securing the required number of MLAs could become challenging, potentially leading to a contest with an RJD candidate. Beyond Bihar, the BJP has selected candidates in Assam, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Odisha, and West Bengal. In Assam, Terash Gowalla and Jogen Mohan have been nominated.#bharatiya_janata_party #rajya_sabha_elections #nitin_nabin #shivesh_kumar #upendra_kushwaha
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced its first list of candidates for the Rajya Sabha elections, with party president Nitin Nabin nominated from Bihar. This move reflects the party's strategic focus on key states to strengthen its parliamentary presence. In Bihar, Nitin Nabin's nomination underscores the state's significance in the BJP's electoral strategy. Meanwhile, in Odisha, the party has selected its Pradesh Congress Committee chief, Manmohan Samal, and existing Rajya Sabha member Sujit Kumar for the upcoming polls. The state has four vacant seats. In Assam, veteran leader Jogesh Mohan and MLA Terash Gavla are being groomed for national politics, with three seats up for grabs. Haryana's Sanjay Bhattacharya, known for his strong grassroots network, and Chhattisgarh's Lakshmi Verma have also been included in the list. The BJP's selection highlights its emphasis on balancing regional representation with experienced leaders. The party aims to consolidate its majority in the Rajya Sabha, leveraging its stronghold in states like Bihar, Odisha, and Assam. Other sections of the original text, such as unrelated news snippets or website metadata, have been excluded to focus solely on the core article content.#odisha #bharatiya_janata_party #bihar #nitin_nabin #manmohan_samal
