Bihar Rajya Sabha polls tomorrow, hotel politics underway on eve of key election

A closely watched contest for five Rajya Sabha seats in Bihar will take place on March 16, with six candidates in the fray and intense political manoeuvring already visible on the eve of the vote.

Voting will be held from 9 am to 5 pm at a polling station set up inside the Bihar Assembly complex, where Members of the Legislative Assembly will cast their ballots. Counting will begin later the same evening and the results are expected to be declared on the same day.

The election has drawn attention as the contest involves multiple parties and alliances, with six candidates competing for five seats.

From the BJP, the candidates are the party’s national president Nitin Naveen and Shivesh Kumar. The JDU has fielded Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Ramnath Thakur. Rashtriya Lok Morcha president Upendra Kushwaha is contesting as an NDA-backed candidate, while the RJD has fielded AD Singh as the candidate of the Grand Alliance.

HOTEL POLITICS BEFORE THE VOTE

Political activity intensified in Patna ahead of the election, with the Grand Alliance moving its legislators to a hotel in what observers described as a familiar round of “hotel politics”.

Grand Alliance MLAs were accommodated at Hotel Panache, where RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav met them ahead of the vote. According to party leaders, the legislators were asked to stay together there overnight before casting their ballots.

RJD MLA Bhai Virendra claimed the alliance had the numbers on its side.

“We have the support of 48 MLAs with the Grand Alliance,” he said.

ADMINISTRATION SAYS ARRANGEMENTS COMPLETE

The administration has said all arrangements have been put in place to ensure a smooth election.

Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Kartikeya Kumar Sharma said the authorities were prepared to maintain order during the polling process.

“All administrative preparations for the Rajya Sabha election have been completed. It will be ensured that the election is conducted fairly,” he said.

“We will keep a close watch to ensure that no irregularities take place. If anyone creates trouble, action will be taken according to the law.”

With alliances marshalling their legislators and the numbers game under scrutiny, the outcome of the vote on March 16 is set to determine which five candidates secure a seat in the Upper House of Parliament.

- Ends