Patna, March 5, 2026 : Nitish Kumar and Nitin Nabin on Thursday filed their nomination papers for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections from Bihar, along with three other candidates from the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
The nominations were filed at the Vidhan Sabha secretariat in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who flew in from New Delhi for the occasion.
Apart from Kumar and Nabin, the NDA has fielded four-time parliamentarian and Union Minister Ram Nath Thakur, who is seeking a hat-trick term in the Upper House; Upendra Kushwaha, aiming for a second consecutive term; and BJP state general secretary Shivesh Kumar, who hopes to make his debut in Parliament.
Earlier in the day, Nitish Kumar announced his decision to move to the Rajya Sabha, effectively bringing the curtains down on his two-decade-long tenure as Bihar’s longest-serving chief minister. Reacting to the development, Union Minister Giriraj Singh said Kumar had expressed his desire to enter the Rajya Sabha nearly three years ago and was now doing so of his own will.
Meanwhile, the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has fielded sitting MP Amarendra Dhari Singh as its candidate. He filed his nomination accompanied by party leaders including national working president Tejashwi Yadav.
Speaking after filing his papers, Ram Nath Thakur thanked the JD(U) leadership for trusting him again and said he hoped to contribute to Nitish Kumar’s vision of making Bihar a developed state. Upendra Kushwaha also welcomed Kumar’s move to the Rajya Sabha, saying it would give him an opportunity to work “alongside our elder brother.”
When asked about the next chief minister of Bihar, Kushwaha said the question would arise only after Nitish Kumar formally resigns from the post.
The elections are being held for five Rajya Sabha seats from Bihar. While the RJD previously held two of these seats, its weakened position after the 2025 Assembly elections—where it secured only 25 seats—has led the party to contest just one seat this time.
The NDA currently holds 202 seats in the 243-member Bihar Assembly, just three short of the number required to secure all five Rajya Sabha seats. The RJD and its Mahagathbandhan allies together command additional support, and the opposition hopes to bridge the gap with backing from parties such as All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen led by Asaduddin Owaisi and the Bahujan Samaj Party headed by Mayawati, though neither has yet formally announced support.
Scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on March 6, while candidates can withdraw their nominations until March 9. If all six candidates remain in the contest, polling will be conducted on March 16.
