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
