Former RJD minister in Rabri Devi’s Cabinet Shivanand Tiwary has been rewarded a Rajya Sabha berth by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Tiwary, who dumped RJD and shifted his allegiance to the JD(U) in 2006, was a key member of the previous Rabri ministry.

Former member of the Planning Commission N K Singh was also given the JD(U) ticket. While the BJP has replaced the sitting RS member Shatrughan Sinha by former Union Health Minister Dr CP Thakur, the RJD has preferred to re-nominate Union Minister for Company Affairs Prem Gupta.