Patna (Bihar) [India], March 16 : Political leaders expressed confidence over the outcome of the Rajya Sabha elections as voting for five seats from Bihar is underway, with both the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Opposition asserting their chances of victory.
Bihar BJP president Sanjay Saraogi exuded confidence that all NDA candidates would win the Rajya Sabha polls in the state. "All five seats are going to go to the account of Bihar's NDA. When we are about to leave after the counting of votes, all five of our leaders will leave as Rajya Sabha members; there is no doubt about this," he said.
Saraogi also targeted the Opposition, claiming that it lacked confidence in its legislators. "They (RJD) do not have trust in their MLAs... Only the people of the Mahagathbandhan can tell why they have kept their MLAs tied up," he added.
Echoing similar confidence, BJP MLA Vijay Khemka said the victory of the NDA candidates was certain. "I am going to vote for the Rajya Sabha elections... All five NDA candidates will definitely win. There is no ifs or buts about it... All five candidates will win. The victory of all five candidates is assured, guaranteed," he stated.
Bihar Minister Deepak Prakash reiterated that the NDA would secure all the seats in the state. "All 5 NDA candidates in Bihar are going to win the election...The opposition is not united; their MLAs have been forcefully kept locked up in hotels. We are confident that all five of our candidates are going to win...Several MLAs in the Opposition are also going to support our candidates. We will get to see this in the results," he said.
LPJ (Ram Vilas) leader Sanjay Kumar Paswan also criticised the Opposition's strategy. "We are united. The opposition's clan will collapse. They are scared; they had kept their MLAs locked up. Two or four even ran away... Why should we panic? Did we lock our MLAs up in a hotel?" he remarked.
On the other hand, leaders from the Opposition alliance expressed optimism about their prospects. RJD MLA Ramanand Yadav said, "There is no question of fear; we are all united. Victory will be ours."
CPI-M leader Ajay Kumar Kushwaha also voted in confidence ahead of the voting. "We will win, and we will win all five seats," he said.
The biennial Rajya Sabha elections are being held to fill 37 seats across 10 states. With polling currently underway, the counting of votes is scheduled to begin at 5 PM. Out of the 37 seats, 26 candidates have already been elected unopposed, while voting is being held for the remaining 11 seats, including four from Bihar.
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