Bihar dy Chief Ministers Samrat Chaudhary, left, Vijay Kumar Sinha, right, and others greet BJP President Nitin Nabin after the NDA swept all five Bihar seats in the Rajya Sabha elections

NEW DELHI: The ruling NDA tightened its grip on the Rajya Sabha in the latest round of biennial polls on Monday, sweeping all five seats in Bihar and winning three of the four seats decided in Odisha, while the outcome of the two Haryana seats remained on hold after a controversy over alleged violation of vote secrecy.Elections were held for only 11 of the 37 Rajya Sabha vacancies, limited to Bihar, Odisha and Haryana, as the remaining members had already been elected unopposed earlier. Of these 11 seats, the NDA won eight, including one Independent backed by the alliance, while the BJD won one in Odisha. Counting for the two Haryana seats was halted late in the evening after complaints from both the BJP and Congress.

NDA sweeps Bihar, Nitish Kumar and Nitin Nabin among winners

In Bihar, the NDA swept all five seats. The winners were JD(U) chief and Bihar’s longest-serving chief minister Nitish Kumar, new Bihar BJP president Nitin Nabin, Union minister Ram Nath Thakur, Rashtriya Lok Morcha chief Upendra Kushwaha, and BJP’s Shivesh Kumar, who will enter the Upper House for the first time.Ram Nath Thakur and Kushwaha, both sitting members, were re-elected. Outgoing MP Amarendra Dhari Singh lost, despite RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav’s claim that he had secured support from five AIMIM MLAs and one BSP legislator.

BJP wins three in Odisha amid cross-voting

In Odisha, the BJP won three of the four seats, including Independent candidate Dilip Ray, whom it backed.The other winners were BJP state unit chief Manmohan Samal, sitting MP Sujeet Kumar, and BJD’s Santrupt Misra.The loser was Dr Datteswar Hota, the BJD-backed candidate supported by the Congress and CPI(M). BJP’s third win came amid cross-voting, with at least five MLAs — three from Congress and two from BJD — reportedly backing Dilip Ray.The Odisha result quickly triggered a political slugfest. BJD MLA Dibya Shankar Mishra alleged that the BJP had engaged in “horse trading” and claimed eight BJD MLAs cross-voted. “I think BJP has done horse-trading here and influenced people in the wrong way… All the 8 BJD MLAs have cross voted,” he told news agency ANI.Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, however, celebrated the outcome, saying it was an important milestone in the state’s journey towards a “Samruddha Odisha”. Majhi said the victory would strengthen Odisha’s voice in the Upper House.

Haryana counting halted after vote secrecy row

The biggest suspense of the day remained in Haryana, where counting for two Rajya Sabha seats was put on hold after the BJP complained of a “violation of vote secrecy” by two Congress MLAs.The BJP’s candidates are Sanjay Bhatia and Independent Satish Nandal, while the Congress has fielded Karamvir Singh Boudh. Haryana minister Krishan Kumar Bedi alleged that the two Congress MLAs did not fold their ballots properly, breaching secrecy norms.The Congress hit back sharply. Party president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to the Election Commission, alleging there was a “clear attempt to interfere with the integrity of the election” and warning that no legitimate vote should be disqualified.Congress leaders also met the Election Commission and demanded that CCTV footage and full video recordings of the polling process be reviewed before any decision was taken. Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain said the complaint appeared to be an afterthought, noting that no objection had been raised when the MLAs cast their votes.

Tight Haryana arithmetic sharpened the contest

The Haryana contest had already drawn attention after the Congress shifted its MLAs to Himachal Pradesh ahead of polling. They returned on Monday morning to vote. The INLD, which has two MLAs, abstained, further sharpening the arithmetic in the 90-member House, where 31 votes are enough to win a seat.The Assembly strength stands at 48 for the BJP, 37 for the Congress, two for the INLD and three Independents.

26 members had already been elected unopposed

Monday’s polling followed the earlier unopposed election of 26 candidates on March 9, including NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, Union minister Ramdas Athawale, former Lok Sabha deputy speaker M Thambidurai and Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi.In Maharashtra, all seven candidates were elected unopposed; in West Bengal, the TMC’s four nominees and BJP’s Rahul Sinha were elected without a contest; in Telangana, Abhishek Singhvi and Vem Narender Reddy won unopposed; and in Tamil Nadu, all six candidates were elected uncontested.

NDA strengthens position in Upper House

Overall, the round has clearly strengthened the NDA’s position in the Upper House. With the alliance sweeping Bihar, expanding in Odisha and awaiting the final outcome in Haryana, the BJP is set to emerge with the maximum number of seats in the Rajya Sabha after this election cycle.