Bihar MLC Election: RJD Fields Kumar Rai Against Madan Mohan Jha

RJD Fields Kumar Rai Against Congress' Madan Mohan Jha

The political contest for the Bihar Legislative Council elections 2026 has intensified after the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) fielded Kumar Rai from the Darbhanga Teachers' constituency against Congress leader Madan Mohan Jha.

The move has brought the differences between the two Grand Alliance partners into sharper focus. Congress had already announced candidates for several seats where it would face RJD candidates directly. With Kumar Rai's candidature, the number of constituencies witnessing a direct RJD-Congress contest has increased to five.

Kumar Rai Gets RJD Ticket

Kumar Rai is the state president of the RJD teachers' cell and belongs to Darbhanga. He has also served as the organisational in-charge for Madhubani district.

Rai said his candidature represents a commitment to raise issues concerning the rights, dignity and interests of teachers in the Darbhanga Teachers' constituency.

The decision means he will face Madan Mohan Jha, a former Bihar Congress president and a prominent Congress leader from the region.

RJD-Congress Contest Raises Questions

The direct contest between two parties that remain part of the broader Grand Alliance has become one of the major talking points of the Bihar MLC election.

The RJD and Congress will now have to campaign against each other in multiple constituencies despite their wider political association.

The elections involve eight Legislative Council seats, with four graduate and four teacher constituencies. Polling is scheduled for October 23, while counting will take place on October 27.

The Darbhanga Teachers' contest will therefore be closely watched as an indicator of the relationship between the RJD and Congress ahead of future political battles in Bihar.