Former Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha has been announced as the candidate of BJP-led NDA for Rajya Sabha elections from Bihar. Two Rajya Sabha seats from the state fell vacant after RJD's Misha Bharti and BJP's Vivek Thakur became Lok Sabha MPs after winning general elections. Notably, Rashtriya Lok Morcha leader Kushwaha had lost Lok Sabha polls from Bihar's Karakat seat.