A dramatic turn of events marked the Rajya Sabha elections in Jharkhand on Thursday, as NDA-backed Independent candidate Parimal Nathwani clinched victory despite the alliance lacking the required numbers in the state Assembly. The outcome highlighted significant cross-voting and unexpected political shifts within the House.
Nathwani secured 28 votes, enough to win one of the two available Rajya Sabha seats, while Congress candidate Pranav Jha managed 20 votes. The second seat was comfortably won by Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) nominee Baidyanath Ram, who received 30 votes.
The election results raised eyebrows because the BJP-led NDA holds only 24 seats in the 81-member Assembly—four short of the votes needed for a Rajya Sabha victory. Nathwani’s success indicated support from legislators outside the NDA camp. The polling process also witnessed three invalid votes, including two from BJP MLAs and one from a Congress legislator.
With this victory, Nathwani enters the Rajya Sabha for a historic fourth term. Having previously represented Jharkhand as an Independent member from 2008 to 2020 and later Andhra Pradesh, he now returns to the state he describes as his “karmabhoomi.”
Expressing gratitude after the win, Nathwani thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP leaders, NDA allies, and legislators who supported his candidature. He reaffirmed his commitment to Jharkhand’s development, stating that the state has become an integral part of his public life and political journey.
The election outcome not only strengthens Nathwani’s political legacy but also underscores the evolving dynamics of Jharkhand politics, where cross-voting once again proved capable of altering expected results.