NDA-backed Independent Parimal Nathwani wins Rajya Sabha seat from Jharkhand after cross-voting
RANCHI: In a closely contested Rajya Sabha election in Jharkhand, Independent candidate Parimal Nathwani, backed by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), secured one of the two seats from the state, while the other seat went to the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) candidate Baidyanath Ram. The results, announced on Thursday, highlighted divisions within the opposition INDIA bloc, as some of its legislators voted for Nathwani.
In the 81-member Jharkhand assembly, the INDIA bloc had an apparent numerical advantage with 56 MLAs: 34 from JMM, 16 from Congress, four from Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and two from the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation. The NDA had 24 MLAs. However, under a seat-sharing agreement, JMM fielded Baidyanath Ram and Congress nominated Pranav Jha. Ram received 30 votes, Nathwani got 28, and Jha finished third with 20 votes. Three ballots were declared invalid.
Congress's Jharkhand affairs in-charge K Raju alleged that an Independent candidate had resorted to horse-trading under BJP patronage. He said that while Congress and JMM MLAs remained loyal, MLAs from RJD and CPI-ML did not support the Congress candidate. The CPI-ML rejected the allegations. State secretary Manoj Bhakt said both its MLAs voted for Jha and accused Congress of making baseless claims to hide its own weaknesses.
The BJP welcomed the result, stating that MLAs voted according to their conscience.
In Mizoram, the ruling Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) candidate K Laltluangkima easily won the lone Rajya Sabha seat. He secured 26 votes in the 40-member assembly, defeating Mizo National Front candidate Zothansangi Hmar, who got 10 votes. Three MLAs did not vote: one from ZPM due to health reasons, and two BJP MLAs and one Congress MLA abstained. ZPM has a majority in the assembly.
Results from other states were already decided unopposed. In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP won three seats and Congress three. In Karnataka, the BJP won one seat and Congress three. In Rajasthan, the BJP secured two seats and Congress one.
