Patna: The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has announced six candidates for the 2026 Bihar Legislative Council elections from the Graduates’ and Teachers’ constituencies, leaving two seats open as the party continues discussions on its nominees.
The list, issued under the signature of RJD state president Mangnilal Mandal, names the party’s official candidates for six constituencies.
Six candidates announced
The RJD has fielded:
- Dr Sanjeev Kumar Singh — Patna Teachers’ constituency
- Dilip Kumar — Patna Graduates’ constituency
- Nitesh Kumar — Kosi Graduates’ constituency
- Anil Kumar Jha — Darbhanga Graduates’ constituency
- Prof Jayram Yadav — Saran Teachers’ constituency
- Dr Rashmi Vinayak Gautam — Tirhut Graduates’ constituency
The party has not yet announced candidates for the Tirhut Teachers’ and Darbhanga Teachers’ constituencies, saying discussions over the two seats are still underway.
Nitesh Kumar gets another chance in Kosi
Nitesh Kumar, a prominent young face of the RJD, has been given another opportunity to contest from the Kosi Graduates’ constituency.
He had contested the seat in the 2020 MLC election as the Mahagathbandhan candidate and secured 13,940 votes, but lost to BJP candidate Dr N.K. Yadav by 6,901 votes.
He subsequently remained active in the RJD and served as National Spokesperson of the Youth RJD. He has regularly raised issues concerning education, degree colleges and graduate voters.
Jayram Yadav returns to Saran Teachers’ contest
Prof Jayram Yadav, known as a teachers’ leader, had contested the 2023 Saran Teachers’ by-election as an independent candidate.
Jan Suraaj-backed independent candidate Afaque Ahmed won that election with 3,055 votes. CPI candidate Anand Pushkar finished second with 2,381 votes, while Jayram Yadav stood third with 2,080 votes.
The RJD has now nominated Yadav for the same constituency for the 2026 election.
RJD backs Anil Kumar Jha again
Anil Kumar Jha had also contested the 2020 Darbhanga Graduates’ election on an RJD ticket.
Independent candidate Sarvesh Kumar won the election, while JD(U)’s Dr Dilip Kumar finished second. Jha stood third with around 9,500 votes.
Despite his previous defeat, the RJD has once again placed its trust in Jha for the Darbhanga Graduates’ seat.
Two seats remain undecided
The RJD has kept the Tirhut Teachers’ and Darbhanga Teachers’ constituencies open for now.
Both seats are currently represented by MLCs belonging to RJD’s alliance partners. The Congress holds the Darbhanga Teachers’ seat, while the CPI holds the Tirhut Teachers’ seat.
The party’s decision to keep the two constituencies under consideration has led to speculation that RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav could leave these seats for its Mahagathbandhan allies.
However, the party has not officially indicated whether the two seats will be allotted to alliance partners, and discussions are still continuing.
