Bihar Congress President Rajesh Ram along with party workers stage a protest at Sadaqat Ashram, alleging that the ruling NDA government “stole votes and legislators” in the recent Rajya Sabha elections in Patna on March 17, 2026. | Photo credit: PTI
The Bihar Congress disciplinary committee has sought an explanation within two days from three Congress MLAs – Manohar Prasad Singh (Manihari), Surendra Prasad (Valmikinagar) and Manoj Bishwas (Forbesganj) – for their absence from the assembly during the Rajya Sabha elections, which it termed as a serious matter.
Their failure in the Upper House polls on March 16 led to the defeat of the opposition alliance candidate Amarendra Dhari Singh, committee chairman Kapildev Prasad Yadav said.
He added that during the voting, attempts were continuously made to contact the truant MLAs through their mobile phones. However, the calls went unanswered and their phones were subsequently found to be switched off.
Blame the state head of the party
The demand for an explanation comes a day after three MLAs alleged that State Congress chief Rajesh Ram directed them to skip the polls as he was not happy that he was not involved in the selection of a common candidate for the mahagathbandhan.
Mr. Ram, however, termed the allegation as “baseless” and claimed that he was awaiting instructions from the central leadership to take disciplinary action against the MLA.
Congress MLAs from Manihari and Valimikinagar also claimed they were not happy with the common candidate and thus decided to abstain.
Faisal Rahman, Rashtriya Janata Dal MLA from Dhaka Assembly constituency, also skipped the polls, citing his mother’s illness as the reason for his absence.
Costly absence
Of the five NDA candidates who secured victory, two were from the Bharatiya Janata Party – the party’s national president Nitin Nabin and Shivesh Kumar. The other two were from the Janata Dal (United) – Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Ramnath Thakur. Rashtriya Lok Morcha president and former Union minister Upendra Kushwaha, who is part of the ruling alliance, also won the seat.
There was a contest between Mr. Shivesh Kumar and Mr. Singh of RJD for the fifth seat. While the NDA candidate got 38 votes, Mr. Singh got only 37 votes, crippled by absentee MLAs.
Rajesh Rathore, president of the Congress media department, said the disciplinary committee had directed the three MLAs to submit an explanation on the matter within two days.
Published – 18 March 2026 21:04 IST
