JD(U) reviews Bihar MLC poll losses; Kushwaha dismisses NDA rift
Synopsis
JD(U) lost three of four Bihar MLC seats — but State President Umesh Kushwaha is calling the BJP bond unbreakable. As two independent winners join the BJP instead of JD(U), the alliance's public unity and its internal fault lines are on a collision course ahead of the Bihar assembly elections.
Key Takeaways
JD(U) held a post-election review in Patna on 5 November 2026 after losing 3 of 4 Bihar MLC seats .
State President Umesh Kushwaha denied any NDA rift, comparing the JD(U)-BJP bond to 'Fevicol' and citing a nearly two-decade alliance.
JD(U) won only the Patna Graduates' constituency ; Neeraj Kumar was the sole JD(U) victor.
Independents Bansidhar Brajwasi and Rahul Raj won seats and subsequently joined the BJP , adding to post-election tension within the NDA.
MLA Vinay Chaudhary brought a written note of shortcomings; candidate Abhishek Jha alleged a 'conspiracy' in his defeat.
The RJD won 2 seats , the Jan Suraaj Party won 1 , and the BJP secured 2 out of four contested.
The Janata Dal (United) on Thursday, 5 November 2026, convened a review meeting at its party headquarters in Patna to assess its performance in the recently concluded Bihar Legislative Council elections, in which the party lost three of the four seats it had contested. The session comes at a politically charged moment, with signs of unease emerging within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) following the results.
Kushwaha Dismisses Alliance Strain
JD(U) State President Umesh Kushwaha firmly rejected suggestions that the Bihar election outcome had strained the party's ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), describing the relationship as being as strong as 'Fevicol'. He pointed out that the two parties had maintained their alliance for nearly two decades, framing the bond as one that transcends individual electoral cycles.
The alliance's cohesion has come under scrutiny after two victorious independent MLCs, Bansidhar Brajwasi and Rahul Raj, chose to join the BJP in the wake of the results — a development that added a fresh dimension to post-election calculations within the NDA.
What Happened in the Bihar MLC Elections
The Bihar Legislative Council elections were conducted across eight seats — four Teachers' constituencies and four Graduates' constituencies. The JD(U) contested four of these seats but managed to win only the Patna Graduates' constituency, where Neeraj Kumar emerged victorious. The BJP likewise contested four seats but secured only two wins. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) claimed two victories and the Jan Suraaj Party won one seat, with the two independents accounting for the remaining wins.
Inside the Review: What Party Leaders Said
JD(U) MLA Manjit Singh described the review as standard organisational practice. 'After every programme, the party conducts a review. Whether the outcome is positive or negative, we sit together and analyse our performance,' he said.
Before the meeting began, JD(U) MLA Vinay Chaudhary underlined its necessity. 'We lost the election, which is why this review meeting is being held. Wherever mistakes were made, they need to be corrected. I have also brought a written note detailing the specific areas where errors occurred,' he said.
The party's candidate from the Tirhut Graduates' constituency, Abhishek Jha, who lost his contest, spoke in pointed terms about the circumstances of his defeat. 'I have learned a great deal from the conspiracy that was hatched against me. I have conveyed everything I needed to say to the JD(U) leadership,' he said, adding that only the strong enter the electoral fray.
Broader Political Significance
The Bihar MLC results carry significance beyond mere seat arithmetic. The JD(U), which anchors Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's government in the state, now faces pressure to explain its underperformance in constituencies that are traditionally viewed as barometers of educated, organised voter sentiment. Notably, the independents' decision to align with the BJP — rather than the JD(U) — adds a layer of internal tension even as Kushwaha publicly downplays any discord.
With assembly elections in Bihar still ahead, the outcome of this review and the party's course-correction measures will be closely watched by both NDA strategists and the opposition.
Point of View
But the independents' decision to align with the BJP — bypassing JD(U) — speaks louder than any press statement. The JD(U) has now lost ground in educator and graduate constituencies, voter blocs that signal grassroots credibility; losing these seats is not just arithmetic, it is a reputational signal. With Bihar assembly elections on the horizon, the internal review's real value will be measured not by the candour of party MLAs in a closed room, but by whether Nitish Kumar's machine can rebuild organisational depth in seats it once took for granted.
NationPress
5 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the results of the Bihar Legislative Council elections?
The Bihar MLC elections were held across eight seats — four Teachers' and four Graduates' constituencies. The JD(U) won one of its four contested seats, the BJP won two of four, the RJD won two, the Jan Suraaj Party won one, and two independent candidates also won.
Why did JD(U) hold a review meeting after the Bihar MLC results?
JD(U) convened the review to identify organisational and campaign shortcomings after losing three of the four seats it contested. Party MLA Vinay Chaudhary said mistakes needed to be corrected and even arrived with a written note detailing specific errors.
Is there a rift between JD(U) and BJP after the Bihar MLC elections?
JD(U) State President Umesh Kushwaha has dismissed any rift, describing the alliance as being as strong as 'Fevicol' and noting it has held for nearly two decades. However, two independent MLCs who won seats chose to join the BJP rather than JD(U), adding a layer of post-election tension within the NDA.
Who were the notable winners in the Bihar MLC elections?
On the NDA side, Neeraj Kumar won the Patna Graduates' constituency for JD(U). The two independent winners, Bansidhar Brajwasi and Rahul Raj, have since joined the BJP. The RJD also won two seats and the Jan Suraaj Party claimed one.
What did JD(U) candidate Abhishek Jha say about his defeat?
Abhishek Jha, who lost from the Tirhut Graduates' constituency, alleged that a 'conspiracy' was hatched against him, saying he had learned from the experience and had communicated his concerns to the party leadership.
