The RJD-led Mahagathbandhan faced a tough day in the Bihar Rajya Sabha elections 2026. RJD candidate Amarendra Dhari Singh, popularly known as AD Singh, lost his seat to BJP candidate Shivesh Kumar. The NDA managed a clean sweep by winning all five seats. This result has led to intense political debates regarding the unity of the opposition alliance and the strategy used by Tejashwi Yadav during the election process.
Why did the RJD candidate lose the election?
The defeat was primarily caused by the absence of several opposition MLAs during the voting process. To win the seat automatically, a candidate needed 41 first-preference votes. Although the Mahagathbandhan expected to reach this number with the help of allies, the final count fell short. The math behind the defeat is explained below:
- Required Votes: 41 first-preference votes
- Actual Votes for AD Singh: 37 votes
- Missing MLAs: 1 RJD MLA (Faisal Rehman) and 3 Congress MLAs
- Final Result: BJP Shivesh Kumar won through second-preference vote transfer
What are the allegations against Tejashwi Yadav?
BJP leaders have claimed that Tejashwi Yadav knew the numbers were not in his favor. They alleged that he chose AD Singh, a prominent businessman from the Bhumihar community, as a scapegoat to avoid fielding a member of his own family. According to BJP MLAs, this move was planned to shift the blame of defeat onto allies or individual candidates rather than the RJD leadership. AD Singh has also expressed anger, pointing towards horse-trading and betrayal by Congress legislators as the main reason for his loss. Meanwhile, Tejashwi Yadav has accused the BJP of using administrative pressure to keep opposition MLAs away from the assembly.
