<p>Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) on Tuesday announced the names of three candidates for the upcoming state legislative council polls.</p>.<p>The elections to nine legislative council seats, which fell vacant after the expiry of tenures of respective members a month ago, will be held on July 6.</p>.<p>"The party had authorised the chief minister, our national president, to take a call on the matter. He has approved the names of Ghulam Gaus, Kumud Verma and Bhishma Sahni," JD(U) national general secretary RCP Singh told reporters here.</p>.<p>Ghulam Gaus, a relative of former assembly speaker and late RJD leader Ghulam Sarwar, had quit the Lalu Prasad-led party and joined the JD(U) in 2014.</p>.<p>His candidature is expected to recompense for denial of a second term to JD(U) leader Haroon Rashid who was also the officiating chairman of the council until the expiry of his term.</p>.<p>Kumud Verma hails from a political family in Jehanabad and her candidature seems to be yet another attempt by the ruling party to project a women-friendly image ahead of the assembly elections due in a few months.</p>.<p>Not much is known about Bhishma Sahni, except that he is an EBC grassroots-level worker from East Champaran district.</p>.<p>Party sources said state minister Ashok Choudhary, a Dalit, who is among the members whose tenure has ended, might be accommodated as a member nominated by the Governor on the state government's recommendation.</p>.<p>A former Congress leader, Choudhary had joined the JD(U) in 2018.</p>.<p>JD(U) ally BJP, which would be contesting two seats, is yet to announce its candidates.</p>.<p>BJP sources said it was almost certain that Sanjay Mayukh, party national media co-convener, would be considered for another term. The decision on the second candidate was hanging fire.</p>.<p>The last date for filing nominations is June 25.</p>.<p>All the nine seats in the 75-member upper house which fell vacant were held by the JD(U)-BJP combine. However, four of these may go to the RJD and the Congress due to the rise in their tallies after the 2015 assembly elections.</p>.<p>The JD(U) has, however, more than made up for the loss with five sitting MLCs of the RJD crossing over to the party earlier in the day.</p>
<p>Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) on Tuesday announced the names of three candidates for the upcoming state legislative council polls.</p>.<p>The elections to nine legislative council seats, which fell vacant after the expiry of tenures of respective members a month ago, will be held on July 6.</p>.<p>"The party had authorised the chief minister, our national president, to take a call on the matter. He has approved the names of Ghulam Gaus, Kumud Verma and Bhishma Sahni," JD(U) national general secretary RCP Singh told reporters here.</p>.<p>Ghulam Gaus, a relative of former assembly speaker and late RJD leader Ghulam Sarwar, had quit the Lalu Prasad-led party and joined the JD(U) in 2014.</p>.<p>His candidature is expected to recompense for denial of a second term to JD(U) leader Haroon Rashid who was also the officiating chairman of the council until the expiry of his term.</p>.<p>Kumud Verma hails from a political family in Jehanabad and her candidature seems to be yet another attempt by the ruling party to project a women-friendly image ahead of the assembly elections due in a few months.</p>.<p>Not much is known about Bhishma Sahni, except that he is an EBC grassroots-level worker from East Champaran district.</p>.<p>Party sources said state minister Ashok Choudhary, a Dalit, who is among the members whose tenure has ended, might be accommodated as a member nominated by the Governor on the state government's recommendation.</p>.<p>A former Congress leader, Choudhary had joined the JD(U) in 2018.</p>.<p>JD(U) ally BJP, which would be contesting two seats, is yet to announce its candidates.</p>.<p>BJP sources said it was almost certain that Sanjay Mayukh, party national media co-convener, would be considered for another term. The decision on the second candidate was hanging fire.</p>.<p>The last date for filing nominations is June 25.</p>.<p>All the nine seats in the 75-member upper house which fell vacant were held by the JD(U)-BJP combine. However, four of these may go to the RJD and the Congress due to the rise in their tallies after the 2015 assembly elections.</p>.<p>The JD(U) has, however, more than made up for the loss with five sitting MLCs of the RJD crossing over to the party earlier in the day.</p>