RJD, AIMIM stake claim for crucial fifth Rajya Sabha seat

Patna: The Rajya Sabha elections in Bihar are headed for a keen contest over the fifth seat with both the RJD and the AIMIM staking claim to it — a seat the opposition can win if it remains united. Based on the current strength in the 243-member Bihar assembly, the ruling NDA, with 202 MLAs, is set to win four of the five seats comfortably. The real contest is over the remaining seat.

As per the formula for the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls, a candidate requires the support of at least 41 MLAs to get elected. Leader of opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav has already said that the RJD-led Grand Alliance would field its own candidate to secure the fifth seat. At the same time, AIMIM state president Akhtarul Iman announced that his party will also field a candidate for the same seat and seek backing from all opposition parties to ensure victory.

Aadil Hasan, AIMIM national spokesperson, said a delegation led by Iman met Tejashwi in his chamber at the state assembly on Thursday to seek RJD support for the AIMIM nominee. Hasan added that AIMIM leaders also met other opposition leaders to request support. The AIMIM candidate’s name has not yet been announced, and Hasan said the decision will be taken by AIMIM national president Asaduddin Owaisi.

Tejashwi, RJD national working president and leader of the Grand Alliance in Bihar, said on Thursday that he had the support of a sufficient number of MLAs and was confident of winning one of the five seats. However, the RJD and its allies — Congress and the Left parties — together have 35 MLAs, short of the required 41. If the Grand Alliance secures the support of AIMIM’s five MLAs and one MLA from the BSP, the opposition can reach the required number and win one seat, limiting the NDA to four.

Five Rajya Sabha vacancies from Bihar will arise on April 9 following the retirement of Prem Chand Gupta and Amarendra Dhari Singh (RJD), Ram Nath Thakur and deputy chairperson Harivansh Narayan Singh (JD-U), and Upendra Kushwaha (RLM). The Election Commission has scheduled the biennial election for March 16. The notification was issued on Feb 26, nominations close on March 5, and counting, if required, will take place on the evening of March 16, an hour after voting concludes. NDA insiders said JD(U), with 85 MLAs, can retain both its seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with 89 MLAs, may claim the other two.