PATNA, April 21 -- The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is all set to nominate former minister Deepak Prakash as its candidate for the bye-election to the Bihar Legislative Council from the assembly constituency segment, with polling fixed for May 12. Prakash, a senior Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) leader and son of RLM chief and Rajya Sabha member Upendra Kushwaha, was sworn in as a minister in the previous Nitish Kumar-led NDA government last November even though he was not a member of the state legislature. Party insiders say he is expected to take oath again during the next cabinet expansion under Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, likely next month. To facilitate this, the RLM has already held talks with senior BJP leaders, who have agreed to spare one seat from the BJP's quota in the upper house, according to a senior RLM leader, who did not wish to be quoted. The vacancy arose after former minister Mangal Pandey resigned from the council following his election to the assembly from Siwan. Nominations for the seat close on April 30. With the NDA commanding a clear majority of 202 seats in the assembly, Prakash is almost certain to be elected uncontested. The result is expected to be formally declared on May 4, the last date for withdrawal of candidatures. In a parallel bye-poll for the Bhojpur-Buxar local authorities constituency of the council - also scheduled for May 12 - both alliances have already named their candidates. Kanhaiya Prasad, son of Janata Dal (United) MLA Radha Charan Sah from Sandesh, has filed papers on the NDA ticket. The opposition Mahagathbandhan has fielded Sonu Rai, son of former RJD MLC Laldas Rai. The Rashtriya Janata Dal formally announced Rai's candidature earlier this month. This seat fell vacant after Radha Charan Sah won the Sandesh assembly seat in the 2025 elections and took oath as an MLA. The Election Commission of India (ECI) issued the notification for the poll on April 16; nominations closed on April 23 and counting will take place on May 14. These two contests are only the opening moves in a larger reshuffle of the 75-member Legislative Council. Four more seats from the assembly constituency quota are likely to see polls soon after vacancies created by the resignations of Nitish Kumar, Samrat Choudhary (then deputy chief minister), Mangal Pandey and JD(U) MLC Bhagwan Singh Kushwaha. A senior officer in the council secretariat confirmed that the ECI has been formally informed and notifications for the remaining seats could be issued later this month or in the first week of May. The churn will intensify in November when seven assembly-quota MLCs, four from graduate constituencies and four from teachers' constituencies complete their six-year terms. A sitting JD(U) MLC, who did not wish to be named, said the commission is expected to notify elections for these seats in August or September....