The biennial election for 11 Bihar Legislative Council seats, which notably include Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Rabri Devi, is slated for March 21.
Moreover, Janata Dal (United) stalwart Narendra Narayan Yadav clinched the position of Deputy Speaker of the Assembly uncontested on Friday.
Among the 11 seats becoming vacant, the BJP holds three MLCs – Mangal Pandey, Sanjay Paswan, and Shahnawaz Hussain. Meanwhile, the Congress’s lone representation comes from Prem Chandra Mishra.
Notably, Sanjay Kumar Jha, a JD(U) member from the Legislative Council, recently secured a seat in the Rajya Sabha. Additionally, the terms of party MLCs Rameshwar Mahto and Khalid Anwar are also drawing to a close.
The tenure of Santosh Kumar Suman, son of Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) leader and former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi, is also nearing its end. Mr. Suman currently serves as a Minister in Mr. Kumar’s cabinet within the NDA government.
Narendra Yadav elected Deputy Speaker
In recent developments on Friday, Narendra Narayan Yadav, a prominent figure within JD(U), clinched the position of Deputy Speaker of the Assembly without contest. Following his election, Chief Minister Kumar, Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary, and other dignitaries extended their congratulations. Yadav, a seasoned politician, has represented the Alamnagar constituency in Madhepura district across multiple terms as an MLA.
The vacancy for Deputy Speaker arose when Maheshwar Hazari of JD(U) resigned from the post on February 21. The party swiftly nominated Yadav as his successor. Speculation surrounds Hazari’s potential inclusion in the upcoming cabinet expansion slated for early March, indicating a potential shift in his responsibilities within the state administration.
