Now, the NDA has fielded Upendra Kushwaha, the leader of the Rashtriya Lok Morcha and former Union Minister, as their candidate for the Rajya Sabha from Bihar. Kushwaha was defeated in the last Lok Sabha elections from Karakat, but he hails from a rich political background, having served both houses of the Parliament and in state legislative bodies.
Bihar BJP President and Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary welcomed the nomination of Kushwaha as a Rajya Sabha member: "Upendra Kushwaha is an experienced leader. As soon as the notification comes for the Rajya Sabha by-poll, he will take his place in the Upper House. His candidature has been supported by all NDA constituents unanimously."
Sources claimed that the nomination of Kushwaha had been a unanimous decision of all NDA allies in order to retain support from the hugely influential Kushwaha community, which is vital in the political landscape of Bihar.
He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and all NDA allies who reposed faith in him and hastened to call for combined efforts to ensure the victory of the NDA in the forthcoming Bihar Assembly elections, slated for the next year.
"I thank from the bottom of my heart to all our associates, particularly Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We need to work collectively for the victory of NDA in the coming elections," Kushwaha said.
In the Lok Sabha elections, Kushwaha fought from Karakat on RLM ticket as part of the NDA alliance and finished third behind CPI-ML's Raja Ram Singh Kushwaha, the winner, and Independent candidate Pawan Singh, a popular Bhojpuri actor.
The two vacancies arose in the Rajya Sabha seats from Bihar following the resignations of Misa Bharti, RJD Rajya Sabha MD, and Vivek Thakur, BJP leader and spokesperson. They won the Lok Sabha seats from Patliputra and Nawada constituencies.
Read also | Asaduddin Owaisi Critiques BJP's Electoral Strategy: Hindutva and Anti-Muslim Rhetoric Key to Success
Read also | Engineer Rashid Granted Two-Hour Parole to Take Oath as MP on July 5
