New Delhi, India – March 17, 2026
The 2026 Rajya Sabha elections delivered a major political twist as cross-voting and absentee legislators significantly altered the results. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) emerged as the biggest winner, securing 9 out of 11 contested seats across Bihar, Haryana, and Odisha.
In contrast, the Congress and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) managed to win just one seat each, marking a setback for opposition alliances.
State-Wise Results Overview
Bihar: NDA Sweeps All 5 Seats
In a dramatic contest, the NDA clinched all five Rajya Sabha seats in Bihar. The outcome was influenced by the absence of key opposition MLAs and strategic vote management.
Winners:
Nitin Nabin (BJP)
Shivesh Ram (BJP)
Nitish Kumar (JDU)
Ramnath Thakur (JDU)
Upendra Kushwaha (RLSM)
The opposition’s candidate, Amarendra Dhari Singh (RJD), lost after failing to secure sufficient preference votes.
Odisha: BJP Gains, BJD Holds One Seat
Out of four seats in Odisha, BJP secured three victories, while BJD managed to retain one.
Winners:
Manmohan Samal (BJP)
Sujit Kumar (BJP)
Dilip Ray (Independent, BJP-backed)
Santaruptha Mishra (BJD)
Cross-voting by several Congress and BJD MLAs played a decisive role, helping BJP-backed candidates gain an advantage.
Haryana: Split Verdict After Voting Dispute
Haryana saw a closely contested election with one seat each going to BJP and Congress after a delayed counting process.
Winners:
Sanjay Bhatia (BJP)
Karamvir Baudh (Congress)
The counting process was delayed due to disputes over vote validity, with final results announced late at night.
Cross-Voting & Absentee MLAs Changed the Game
The elections were marked by significant cross-voting and absenteeism:
In Bihar, several Congress and RJD MLAs did not vote, weakening the opposition’s position.
In Odisha, at least 11 MLAs cross-voted, boosting BJP’s tally.
In Haryana, disputes over invalid votes delayed counting by nearly six hours.
These developments reshaped the electoral outcome, giving the NDA a clear edge.
Key Political Impact
The results highlight the NDA’s strong strategic positioning and internal coordination, while exposing cracks within opposition alliances. The unexpected voting patterns and last-minute political shifts played a crucial role in determining the final outcome.
Other Key Results: 26 Candidates Elected Unopposed
In addition to the contested seats, 26 candidates were elected unopposed across multiple states, with both NDA and opposition securing 13 seats each.
Major states included Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Himachal Pradesh, reflecting a balanced distribution outside the contested regions.
Conclusion
The Rajya Sabha Elections 2026 underline how cross-voting, political strategy, and internal divisions can dramatically influence outcomes. With the NDA winning 9 out of 11 seats, the results mark a significant political development ahead of future electoral battles.
