Gayaji/Patna: Five Rajya Sabha seats from Bihar are set to fall vacant in 2026, setting off intense speculation in political circles about who will secure nominations in a rapidly shifting landscape. Analysts say the coming year could prove particularly testing for several veteran leaders, with party equations and alliance dynamics suggesting that re-election is far from assured.
The terms of several prominent members will end on April 9, 2026, triggering elections for the seats soon after. Among those retiring are Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) stalwarts Prem Chandra Gupta and AD Singh. Two members from the ruling Janata Dal (United) — Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh and Ramnath Thakur — are also completing their terms. The fifth seat belongs to Upendra Kushwaha, president of the Rashtriya Lok Morcha.
Political observers believe parties are preparing to field new faces rather than rely on incumbents, giving the contest the feel of a high-stakes “musical chairs”. With alliances under strain and seat-sharing negotiations yet to begin in earnest, the path back to the Upper House appears uncertain for several outgoing MPs.
#WATCH | गया, बिहार: केंद्रीय मंत्री जीतन राम मांझी ने कहा, “…हम देख रहे थे कि खबरों में कहा जा रहा था कि JDU को 2 राज्यसभा सीटें, BJP को 2 और लोक जनशक्ति पार्टी (राम विलास) को एक सीट दी जा रही है। ऐसे में हिंदुस्तानी आवाम मोर्चा(सेक्युलर) कहां है? 2024 के चुनावों में हमसे दो… pic.twitter.com/1l5Y8H0yQ4
— ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) December 21, 2025
The emerging tension is most visible within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), where Union minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha- Secular (HAM-S) patron Jitan Ram Manjhi has issued a pointed warning ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections. Manjhi has publicly asserted that his party deserves a Rajya Sabha berth and cautioned that any perceived “betrayal” or lack of respect within the alliance would not go unchallenged.
Addressing party workers, Manjhi said HAM (S) should be prepared to contest at least 100 assembly seats in the next Bihar elections. If the party is denied what he described as a fair share, he suggested HAM (S) could go it alone, invoking the slogan “Inquilab Zindabad”. He argued that even a solo contest, with an estimated vote share of 5% to 6%, would establish the party as a decisive political force.
