Amid discussions on Rajya Sabha elections seat-sharing, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), part of the NDA, has brought up a past alleged promise to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regarding a Rajya Sabha seat. Party patron and Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi clarified that while not demanding a Rajya Sabha berth, they expect the promise to be fulfilled. Manjhi highlighted that the commitment was for two Lok Sabha seats and one Rajya Sabha seat, emphasizing the importance of honoring agreements.
A total of 37 Rajya Sabha seats are up for grabs nationwide, with Bihar accounting for five, which hold significant political weight. The current scenario in Bihar sees the terms of three NDA MPs and two Grand Alliance MPs coming to an end. The upcoming elections are crucial as the NDA, with 202 MLAs, needs 41 votes to secure one Rajya Sabha seat and 205 for all five seats, making the fifth seat pivotal and potentially contentious.
The Grand Alliance, with 35 MLAs, could potentially secure a seat with support from AIMIM and BSP MLAs. Talks within the NDA suggest a tentative formula of two seats for BJP, two for JDU, and one for an ally. The key question remains whether HAM will be the recipient of that one seat. Manjhi’s insistence on the promised seat adds complexity to the negotiations without issuing any ultimatums, raising speculation on its impact on the NDA’s internal dynamics as the elections draw closer.
