Bihar council polls: NDA wins four seats as Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj makes maiden entry

The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won four of the eight seats in the Bihar Legislative Council elections, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) securing three constituencies and its ally Janata Dal (United) winning one, according to official results declared on Wednesday.

The elections also marked a breakthrough for Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party (JSP), which opened its account in the state’s Upper House by winning the Darbhanga Teachers’ constituency.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) secured one seat, while two constituencies elected independent candidates, including a former BJP rebel.

The results have reshaped the political landscape in Bihar, with the ruling alliance making gains even as the Opposition Mahagathbandhan struggled amid internal differences and competing candidates.

BJP wins three seats, records 75% strike rate

The BJP contested four constituencies and won three, achieving a 75 per cent success rate.

N.K. Yadav won the Kosi Graduates’ seat, Sarvesh Kumar secured the Darbhanga Graduates’ constituency, while Narendra Prasad Singh emerged victorious in the Tirhut Teachers’ seat.

The party’s performance strengthened its position in the council, while its NDA ally JD(U) managed to secure one seat.

However, JD(U) suffered defeats in the three other constituencies it contested, Tirhut Graduates, Darbhanga Teachers and Saran Teachers.

Nishant Kumar’s campaign boosts JD(U) in Patna

The Patna Graduates’ constituency emerged as a crucial contest for JD(U), with Nishant Kumar, son of former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, spearheading the campaign for party candidate Neeraj Kumar.

Nishant successfully mobilised support across key demographic groups, including Kurmis, Bhumihars and Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs), helping Neeraj Kumar secure a decisive victory.

The win came despite internal friction within the party. Mokama MLA Anant Singh actively campaigned for Jan Suraaj candidate Anuj Singh, while Lok Sabha MP Rajiv Ranjan Singh, popularly known as Lalan Singh, maintained his distance from the campaign.

The outcome has significantly enhanced Nishant Kumar’s political standing within JD(U), according to analysts and party leaders.

Jan Suraaj opens account in legislative council

Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party registered a significant breakthrough by winning the Darbhanga Teachers’ constituency.

Suresh Prasad Rai defeated his rivals in the seat, dealing a political setback to JD(U) national working president Sanjay Jha in his home region of Mithilanchal.

The victory came after Jan Suraaj’s earlier success in the Bankipur Assembly by-election. The party had contested all eight Legislative Council constituencies.

Its Darbhanga win marks its first representation in the Upper House and reinforces its emergence as a potential third force in Bihar politics.

Mahagathbandhan suffers setbacks amid infighting

The Opposition Mahagathbandhan’s performance was severely affected by internal disputes, with the Congress and RJD fielding competing candidates against each other in five constituencies.

Former Bihar Congress president Madan Mohan Jha lost the Darbhanga Teachers’ seat, leaving the party without a single victory in the elections.

The Communist Party of India (CPI) also suffered a setback, with Professor Sanjay Singh failing to retain the Tirhut Teachers’ constituency, which he had held for two consecutive terms.

The RJD, however, managed to secure the Patna Teachers’ seat. Dr Sanjiv Kumar defeated veteran BJP leader Nawal Kishore Yadav to claim the constituency.

The party fell short in the five other seats it contested.

The results underline the contrasting fortunes of Bihar’s political parties, with the NDA consolidating its position, Jan Suraaj making its first entry into the council and the Opposition struggling to overcome divisions.

(with IANS inputs)