Rajya Sabha Elections: Massive setbacks were in cards for the opposition bloc after Rajya Sabha candidates backed by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) went on to winning big time. The results were significantly influenced by the absent of many legislators and cross-voting during polling. This tipped the crucial balance in the favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies.
Rajya Sabha Elections-Bihar Seats Swept By NDA
All five seats of Bihar in the Rajya Sabha contest were won by NDA. BJP leaders Nitin Nabin and Shivesh Kumar, JDU leader Nitish Kumar, Rashtriya Lok Morcha leader Upendra Kushwaha and Union Minister Ram Nath Thakur were declared winners.
Cross-Voting And Absenteeism
Three MLAs from the Indian National Congress and one from Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) were not present at the voting during the Rajya Sabha elections. This proved costly for AD Singh, the sitting MLA of RJD, who failed to retain his Upper House seat.
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Setback For Tejashwi Yadav
The political circles in Bihar soon started talking about discord of RJD with Congress. RJD followers blamed the defeat on the internal disarray of Congress instead of their own shortcoming.
RJD Chief Tejasvi Yadav had reached out to Bahujan Samaj Party’s lone MLA, AIMIM leader Akhtarul Iman and an independent MLA from the Indian Inclusive Party (IIP). Despite these moves, the Indian National Congress failed to manage its set of disgruntled legislators. According to media reports, many MLAs have been unhappy within the Congress for long but their demands have been left unaddressed by top party leadership.
Immediately after the defeat, the RJD Chief blamed the BJP of engaging in horse-trading. Yadav alleged that the MLAs who voted against the alliance or abstained were “influenced” by BJP.
Surprise Results In Odisha Poll
BJP candidates Sujeet Kumar and Manmohan Samal won along with BJD candidate Santrupt Misra. Dilip Ray, backed by BJP, surprised one and all by winning against the joint BJD-Congress candidate Datteswar Hota.
It is believed that the ongoing tussles between Mahagathbandhan parties would also severely impact poll results in states such as West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry – all of which would go to state elections in the coming months.
