The Crossbill Team
Nominations for the upcoming biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha gathered momentum across several States on Thursday (March 5, 2026), with candidates from both ruling alliances and opposition parties filing their papers for seats in Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Odisha and West Bengal.
In Bihar, five candidates from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) submitted their nominations, including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Nitin Nabin, the State president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The other NDA candidates are BJP State general secretary Shivesh Kumar, Ram Nath Thakur of the Janata Dal (United) and Upendra Kushwaha of the Rashtriya Lok Morcha.
However, Kumar’s decision to contest the Rajya Sabha elections drew criticism from opposition leaders. Senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot questioned the move, suggesting it might have been taken under pressure.
“I do not understand why you (Nitish Kumar) contested the elections, sought the support of the people, and won their votes. Now you are withdrawing. Who is pressuring you to do this? Are you acting of your own free will, or is this a reluctant decision? It’s unclear,” news agency PTI quoted Pilot as telling reporters in Jaipur.
“Nitish ji has changed his mind many times before. Now, there are rumours that he is heading to Delhi (Rajya Sabha). What will happen in Bihar now? Will the BJP exert pressure and take control?” he asked.
In Tamil Nadu, several candidates from different parties filed their nomination papers. Those in the fray include Tiruchi Siva and J. Constandine Ravindran of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, M. Thambi Durai of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Anbumani Ramadoss of the Pattali Makkal Katchi, M. Christopher Tilak of the Indian National Congress and L. K. Sudhish of the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam.
In Maharashtra, nominations were filed for seven Rajya Sabha seats, with six candidates from the ruling Mahayuti alliance and one from the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi. Among those who submitted their papers were Union Minister Ramdas Athawale and BJP leader Vinod Tawde. The opposition alliance has fielded veteran politician Sharad Pawar as its nominee.
Apart from four BJP candidates, the alliance partner Nationalist Congress Party has fielded Parth Pawar, son of the late Ajit Pawar, while the Shiv Sena has nominated its spokesperson Jyoti Waghmare.
The contest in Odisha has generated interest after five candidates filed nominations for four seats, raising the possibility of cross-voting. Two candidates each from the BJP and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and one Independent are in the fray.
The BJP’s official candidates — State unit president Manmohan Samal and sitting Rajya Sabha MP Sujeet Kumar — submitted their nomination papers, along with former Union Minister Dilip Ray, who is contesting as an Independent with the support of the BJP.
The BJD has nominated party leader Santrupt Misra and eminent urologist Dr. Datteswar Hota, with both the Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) extending support to their candidature.
In West Bengal, the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the BJP have filed nominations for five Rajya Sabha seats. The TMC fielded four candidates — minister Babul Supriyo, former State Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar, senior Supreme Court advocate Menaka Guruswamy and actor Koel Mallick — all of whom filed their papers in the Assembly. The BJP has nominated former State unit president Rahul Sinha as its lone candidate.
The Maharashtra contest has also drawn attention due to the presence of two members of the influential Pawar political family in rival camps. Both Sharad Pawar, 85, chief of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar), and his grandnephew Parth Pawar filed their nominations in Mumbai for the March 16 Rajya Sabha elections.
If elected, it would mark the first time that the senior Pawar and his grandnephew serve simultaneously in Parliament. Parth Pawar’s mother, Sunetra Pawar, currently the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and president of the NCP, continues to be a member of the Rajya Sabha, while Sharad Pawar’s daughter and NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule represents Baramati in the Lok Sabha, underlining the continued prominence of the Pawar family in national politics.
In Bihar, five candidates from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) submitted their nominations, including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Nitin Nabin, the State president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The other NDA candidates are BJP State general secretary Shivesh Kumar, Ram Nath Thakur of the Janata Dal (United) and Upendra Kushwaha of the Rashtriya Lok Morcha.
However, Kumar’s decision to contest the Rajya Sabha elections drew criticism from opposition leaders. Senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot questioned the move, suggesting it might have been taken under pressure.
“I do not understand why you (Nitish Kumar) contested the elections, sought the support of the people, and won their votes. Now you are withdrawing. Who is pressuring you to do this? Are you acting of your own free will, or is this a reluctant decision? It’s unclear,” news agency PTI quoted Pilot as telling reporters in Jaipur.
“Nitish ji has changed his mind many times before. Now, there are rumours that he is heading to Delhi (Rajya Sabha). What will happen in Bihar now? Will the BJP exert pressure and take control?” he asked.
In Tamil Nadu, several candidates from different parties filed their nomination papers. Those in the fray include Tiruchi Siva and J. Constandine Ravindran of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, M. Thambi Durai of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Anbumani Ramadoss of the Pattali Makkal Katchi, M. Christopher Tilak of the Indian National Congress and L. K. Sudhish of the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam.
In Maharashtra, nominations were filed for seven Rajya Sabha seats, with six candidates from the ruling Mahayuti alliance and one from the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi. Among those who submitted their papers were Union Minister Ramdas Athawale and BJP leader Vinod Tawde. The opposition alliance has fielded veteran politician Sharad Pawar as its nominee.
Apart from four BJP candidates, the alliance partner Nationalist Congress Party has fielded Parth Pawar, son of the late Ajit Pawar, while the Shiv Sena has nominated its spokesperson Jyoti Waghmare.
The contest in Odisha has generated interest after five candidates filed nominations for four seats, raising the possibility of cross-voting. Two candidates each from the BJP and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and one Independent are in the fray.
The BJP’s official candidates — State unit president Manmohan Samal and sitting Rajya Sabha MP Sujeet Kumar — submitted their nomination papers, along with former Union Minister Dilip Ray, who is contesting as an Independent with the support of the BJP.
The BJD has nominated party leader Santrupt Misra and eminent urologist Dr. Datteswar Hota, with both the Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) extending support to their candidature.
In West Bengal, the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the BJP have filed nominations for five Rajya Sabha seats. The TMC fielded four candidates — minister Babul Supriyo, former State Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar, senior Supreme Court advocate Menaka Guruswamy and actor Koel Mallick — all of whom filed their papers in the Assembly. The BJP has nominated former State unit president Rahul Sinha as its lone candidate.
The Maharashtra contest has also drawn attention due to the presence of two members of the influential Pawar political family in rival camps. Both Sharad Pawar, 85, chief of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar), and his grandnephew Parth Pawar filed their nominations in Mumbai for the March 16 Rajya Sabha elections.
If elected, it would mark the first time that the senior Pawar and his grandnephew serve simultaneously in Parliament. Parth Pawar’s mother, Sunetra Pawar, currently the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and president of the NCP, continues to be a member of the Rajya Sabha, while Sharad Pawar’s daughter and NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule represents Baramati in the Lok Sabha, underlining the continued prominence of the Pawar family in national politics.
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