Nishant Kumar. File
| Photo Credit: ANI
The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar on Friday (June 5, 2026) announced names of eight candidates, four each from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)] for the biennial State legislative council poll on 10 seats scheduled to be held on June 18, 2026.First, it was the JD(U) which announced names of Nishant Kumar, son of former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Bharti Mehta, Shivani Devi Prajapati and Lalan Prasad as party’s candidate in the upcoming biennial poll while, hours later the ruling ally BJP too announced names of party candidates Sanjay Mayukh, Pawan Singh, Anil Kumar Thakur and Sheela Pandit.Earlier, the Election Commission had announced schedule for the biennial polls to nine seats of Bihar Legislative council while, one seat was vacated by the resignation of former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar after his election to the Rajya Sabha. Mr. Kumar had resigned from the legislative council on March 30’ 2026 and took oath as member of Rajya Sabha on April 10’ 2026. The term of nine members is scheduled to be expired on June 28. The poll is scheduled to be held on June 18, followed by the counting on the same day. Of these nine seats, two seats held by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and JD(U) leader Bhagwan Singh Kushwaha fell vacant as both were elected as MLAs in last 2025 Assembly elections. The seven other members whose term ends on June 28 are to be expired are: Kumud Verma, Prof. Ghulam Ghous, Mohd. Farooq, Bhisma Sahani, Sanjay Prakash alias Sanjay Mayukh, Samir Kumar Singh and Sunil Kumar Singh.Of the total 10 seats going to the poll, five seats are held by the JD(U), two each by the BJP and the Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and one by the Congress party. In the 75-member State legislative Council, the ruling NDA has 42 members (BJP-23, JD-U 18 and Hindustani Awam Morcha-Secular 1 ) while the Opposition mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) has 22 members with six independents.In the total 243-member State Legislative Assembly, the NDA has 201 MLAs as one seat of Bankipur constituency fell vacant after BJP MLA Nitin Nabin was elected to the Rajya Sabha and none has filled the seat yet. The Opposition mahagathbandhan holds support of total 35 members which includes 25 from the RJD and six from the Congress party and the rest others by the Left parties (CPI-ML 2 And CPM 1) and one from the Indian Inclusive Party (IIP) of leader Indrajeet Gupta. In the upcoming legislative council elections, a candidate needs support of at least 25-MLAs to win a legislative council seat.The JD(U) on Friday (June 5, 2026) announced names of Nishant Kumar, son of former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, two women candidates Bharti Mehta and Shivani Devi Prajapati and Lalan Prasad. Nishant Kumar has been nominated from Patna district, while the two women candidates are to be elected from Madhubani and West Champaran respectively. Lalan Prasad is a resident of Sheikhpura district.Hours later, the ruling alliance partner BJP too on Friday announced names of four candidates Sanjay Prakash alias Sanjay Mayukh, Bhojpuri actor and singer Pawan Singh, Anil Kumar Thakur and Smt. Sheela Pandit. Mr. Mayukh is also national media coordinator. The Opposition Congress party and the RJD are yet to announce names their party candidates for the upcoming biennial poll. Name of Tej Pratap Yadav, elder son of RJD chief Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi and chief of Janshakti Janata Dal (JJP) is doing in political circle of the State as a probable RJD candidate in the legislative Council poll. Mr. Yadav had lost the last 2025 State Assembly election from Mahua (Vaishali) seat. Published - June 06, 2026 11:12 am IST
