Fresh tensions have erupted within Bihar's ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as a key ally has issued a stark ultimatum over representation in the Upper House of Parliament. Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) chief and Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has declared his readiness to resign from the Union Cabinet if his party is not allotted a Rajya Sabha seat, a demand he claims was promised by the NDA leadership.
The Core Demand and Political Ultimatum
Speaking at a party event in Patna on December 22, 2025, Manjhi upped the ante significantly. He stated that the HAM(S) is prepared to relinquish its ministerial positions at both the Centre and in the state if its claim for a Rajya Sabha berth is ignored. Manjhi was joined by his son, Santosh Suman, who serves as a minister in Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's state cabinet. Manjhi urged his son to also be prepared to resign over this issue.
Justifying his party's claim, Manjhi pointed to its performance in the November 2025 Bihar Assembly elections. The HAM(S) won five out of the six seats it contested, securing a 1.17% vote share. He argued that his party's performance was second only to the BJP among NDA allies in the state. "We have to give up 'moh' (desire) of ministries at the Centre and in the state," Manjhi asserted, indicating a shift in focus towards legislative influence.
The Rajya Sabha Calculus and NDA Dynamics
The jockeying revolves around five Rajya Sabha seats from Bihar whose tenures are set to end in April 2026. The retiring MPs include JD(U)'s Ramnath Thakur and Deputy Chairperson Harivansh, Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha, and two RJD members. Given the NDA's overwhelming strength of 202 seats in the 243-member Bihar Assembly, the alliance is poised to win all five seats, with each candidate requiring 48 votes.
Internal NDA discussions suggest the JD(U) and BJP are likely to claim two seats each. The contest is for the fifth seat, for which Manjhi is bargaining. However, the Chirag Paswan-led LJP(RV), which won 19 seats, is also a contender, with speculation that Chirag's mother, Reena Paswan, may be nominated. Currently, neither HAM(S) nor LJP(RV) has any Rajya Sabha representation.
Sources within HAM(S) strengthened their claim by comparing their position with ally Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM), which won four seats. They noted that the RLM was "accommodated properly" and argued there is "nothing wrong" in seeking a berth with five legislators. They also highlighted that HAM(S) has one Lok Sabha MP, while the RLM has none after Upendra Kushwaha's loss in the 2024 general elections.
Allies React: A Rebuke for "Overenthusiasm"
Manjhi's strong public posturing has not been well received by senior partners in the alliance. A JD(U) leader dismissed the demand as premature, calling it a reaction to "overenthusiasm." The leader remarked, "Manjhi ji seems to be too ambitious despite his limited reach in state politics."
A BJP leader echoed this sentiment, stating that the NDA central leadership would handle the matter in due time and that Manjhi should refrain from making public comments. "The Rajya Sabha polls are still some time away," the leader added, attempting to downplay the immediate crisis.
This development signals early friction within the Bihar NDA, which had presented a united front during the recent assembly polls. Manjhi's threat to quit the cabinets introduces an element of uncertainty, testing the alliance's cohesion as it prepares for the crucial Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for next year. The situation underscores the complex bargaining and balance of power among allies in Indian coalition politics.
