Patna, Feb. 21 -- With the announcement of the Rajya Sabha elections, the ruling NDA has expressed confidence of winning all five Rajya Sabha seats in Bihar. NDA leaders believe that the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) may not even field a candidate in a bid to save face, claiming that several of its MLAs are in touch with the NDA.
With 202 MLAs in the 243-member Assembly, the NDA is comfortably placed to win four of the five seats. The alliance, however, will fall short by three MLAs for securing the fifth seat on its own.
The JD(U) is likely to field candidates for two seats and the BJP for two, while the fifth seat may be allotted to an ally.
Earlier, Jitan Ram Manjhi had staked his claim to the seat, but the BJP rejected his demand....