Setback for Mahagathbandhan as four MLAs skip Rajya Sabha voting in Bihar

The Mahagathbandhan faced a major setback during the Rajya Sabha elections in Bihar after four of its legislators failed to cast their votes. The absence came at a crucial stage of the election for five Rajya Sabha seats, weakening the alliance’s chances of securing the required numbers in the contest.

Those who skipped voting included three legislators from the Indian National Congress—Surendra Prasad Kushwaha, Manoj Biswas and Manohar Prasad Singh—along with Faisal Rahman of the Rashtriya Janata Dal. Their absence significantly affected the opposition alliance’s vote count during the polling process.

The Mahagathbandhan had attempted to consolidate support for the election and was also relying on backing from parties such as the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen and the Bahujan Samaj Party. However, despite these efforts, the alliance could not reach the required figure of 41 votes needed to secure a seat in the Rajya Sabha election from the state assembly.

The absence of the four MLAs gained significance as the opposition alliance and the National Democratic Alliance were locked in a contest for the fifth Rajya Sabha seat. While the victory of several candidates backed by the ruling alliance was considered certain, the final seat turned into a closely watched electoral battle.

With the voting concluded, the absence of the four legislators is expected to influence the overall outcome of the contest, tilting the advantage towards the NDA-backed candidate in the race for the final Rajya Sabha seat from Bihar.