New Delhi: Rajya Sabha elections were held on March 16 to fill 37 seats across ten states. Of these, 26 candidates secured victory unopposed. Voting took place for the remaining 11 seats, including five from Bihar, four from Odisha, and two from Haryana.
With results for the voting coming in, the NDA has won 8 seats – five in Bihar and three in Odisha including the Independent candidate backed by the party. The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) secured one seat in Odisha, while counting for two seats in Haryana was put on hold over allegations of irregularities
In this election, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was aiming to further strengthen its position in the Rajya Sabha. The NDA, which governs six of the 10 states going to the polls, currently holds 134 seats in the 234-member House. The opposition INDIA bloc, which is in power in four of the states voting today, currently has 80 members in the Upper House.
The NDA swept the elections in Bihar, winning all five seats in the state. Bihar's longest-serving chief minister and JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar, and BJP president Nitin Nabin were both elected from the state.
No full stop in politics: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the Rajya Sabha in wishing an active future to the retiring members, emphasizing that there is no “full stop” in politics and their experience in the Upper House in the last six years equips them for challenges ahead.
Modi emphasized that farewells are always bitter-sweet as retiring members move on to other important roles in life. “There is no full stop in politics. The future is waiting for you,” he said, adding that the contribution of these members will be remembered.
