NDA Dominates Rajya Sabha Elections 2026, Sweeps Bihar and Gains Ground in Odisha

New Delhi, March 2026 : The 2026 elections to the Rajya Sabha have delivered significant political gains for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which secured a strong performance across key states. Voting was conducted on Monday to fill 37 seats across ten states, with the ruling alliance winning eight of the 11 seats that went to polling, including a complete sweep in Bihar.

Of the 37 seats up for election, 26 candidates had already been elected unopposed earlier. The remaining 11 seats went to polling in three states—five in Bihar, four in Odisha, and two in Haryana. With the results now largely declared, the NDA has strengthened its presence in the Upper House.

NDA Sweeps Bihar

The most decisive outcome came from Bihar, where the NDA won all five Rajya Sabha seats. Among the prominent winners was veteran leader Nitish Kumar, one of the state’s longest-serving chief ministers and the national president of the Janata Dal (United).

Also elected from Bihar was Nitin Nabin, president of the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Other successful candidates included Union Minister Ram Nath Thakur from JD(U) and Upendra Kushwaha, chief of the Rashtriya Lok Morcha, both of whom retained their seats in the Upper House.

BJP candidate Shivesh Kumar also secured victory, marking his first entry into the Rajya Sabha. The outcome underscored the NDA’s numerical dominance in the Bihar Legislative Assembly.

BJP Gains in Odisha

In Odisha, the BJP secured three of the four seats contested. Among the winners was former Union Minister Dilip Ray, who contested as an Independent candidate with BJP support. The party also secured victories for its Odisha unit president Manmohan Samal and sitting Rajya Sabha MP Sujeet Kumar.

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) managed to win one seat through its candidate Santrupt Misra. However, the voting process in the state witnessed controversy, with allegations that several legislators cross-voted.

Reports indicated that at least five MLAs—three from the Indian National Congress and two from the BJD—allegedly voted in favour of BJP-backed candidates, contributing to the party’s strong performance.

Counting Suspended in Haryana

Meanwhile, the counting of votes for two Rajya Sabha seats in Haryana was put on hold after both the BJP and Congress filed complaints accusing each other of violating election rules.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to the Election Commission of India alleging attempts to interfere with the integrity of the election process. Kharge requested that the Commission take immediate action and grant time for a Congress delegation to present its concerns.

On the other hand, the BJP accused Congress leaders of violating ballot secrecy. Haryana minister Krishan Kumar Bedi alleged that two Congress MLAs failed to properly fold their ballot papers, thereby compromising the secrecy of their votes. The party subsequently lodged a complaint with the Election Commission.

Allegations of Irregularities in Odisha

Concerns over election procedures were also raised in Odisha. Former Chief Minister and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik alleged irregularities during the voting process.

Patnaik claimed that a legislator from the Brahmagiri Assembly constituency was mistakenly allowed to cast her vote and was then issued a second ballot paper, which he argued was in violation of established election rules.

Unopposed Winners Across States

Out of the 37 seats contested, 26 candidates were elected unopposed earlier. Among them, the BJP secured seven seats while the Congress won five. The All India Trinamool Congress won four seats, and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) secured three.

Other parties that won one seat each include Shiv Sena, Republican Party of India (Athawale), Nationalist Congress Party, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar), All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Pattali Makkal Katchi and United People’s Party Liberal.

Notable personalities among the newly elected members include veteran leader Sharad Pawar, senior lawyer and Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi, DMK leader Tiruchi Siva, and BJP leader Vinod Tawde.

Impact on Rajya Sabha Balance

The elections were held as the term of 37 members from states including Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Telangana are set to expire in April.

Before the election, the NDA held around 134 seats in the 234-member Rajya Sabha, while the opposition INDIA alliance had approximately 80 members. The latest results are expected to further consolidate the NDA’s strength in the Upper House, potentially making it easier for the ruling alliance to push forward key legislative agendas.

Team Maverick