In a major political upset, the election to two Rajya Sabha seats from Jharkhand has delivered an unexpected outcome, with Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) candidate Baidyanath Ram and NDA-backed independent candidate Parimal Nathwani emerging victorious, while Congress nominee Pranav Jha suffered a surprise defeat despite the INDIA bloc's numerical advantage in the State Assembly.
The results have triggered intense political discussions and raised questions over possible cross-voting within the ruling alliance.
According to the final tally, JMM candidate Baidyanath Ram secured 30 votes, comfortably winning one of the two seats. Independent candidate Parimal Nathwani, who enjoyed the support of the BJP-led NDA, received 28 votes. However, two votes cast in his favour were declared invalid.
Congress candidate Pranav Jha managed to secure 20 votes, while one vote cast for him was also invalidated.
The outcome came as a surprise to many political observers. Ahead of the election, the INDIA bloc—which comprises the JMM, Congress, RJD and CPI(ML)—appeared comfortably placed with 56 legislators in the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly.
In contrast, the NDA's strength stood at just 24 MLAs, leading to expectations that both INDIA bloc candidates would sail through.
Also read: Jharkhand RS polls set for high-stakes showdown
However, the final result dramatically altered those calculations, with Nathwani overtaking the Congress candidate to clinch the second seat.
Nathwani, a seasoned parliamentarian and industrialist, had actively reached out to legislators across party lines before the election and repeatedly asserted that he would receive support beyond political affiliations. The result appears to validate that strategy.
The election has also intensified speculation about cross-voting. Given the Assembly arithmetic, Nathwani's victory suggests that some legislators may have voted contrary to their alliance's expected line. While no official confirmation has emerged regarding which party legislators may have cross-voted, the issue is likely to dominate political discourse in the coming days.
Baidyanath Ram's victory, meanwhile, was widely anticipated due to the alliance's numerical strength and was never considered under threat.
Political analysts view Nathwani's victory as more than just a Rajya Sabha win. The result is being seen as a significant psychological boost for the NDA in Jharkhand and a setback for the Congress, which may now face difficult questions about internal cohesion and floor management.
With the unexpected outcome reshaping the political narrative, attention is now turning to the possibility of shifting political equations in Jharkhand and the implications of the Rajya Sabha election for future electoral contests in the State.
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