SUMAN K SHRIVASTAVA
Ranchi, June 8: The battle for the two Rajya Sabha seats from Jharkhand took an interesting turn on Monday with sitting Rajya Sabha member Parimal Nathwani filing his nomination as an Independent candidate with the backing of the NDA, a move that could significantly alter the contest for the second seat and pose a challenge to the Congress nominee.
Nathwani filed his nomination papers at the Jharkhand Assembly in the presence of BJP MLAs Navin Jaiswal and C.P. Singh, underlining the saffron party’s support for his candidature. Several senior BJP leaders, including former Union minister Arjun Munda and former Chief Minister Raghubar Das, were also present in the Assembly when he filed his nomination.
BJP Opts for Nathwani Instead of Fielding Its Own Candidate
The BJP’s decision is politically significant, as the party had been weighing the option of fielding its own candidate, with national spokesperson Gaurav Vallabh’s name doing the rounds. However, after internal deliberations, the party chose not to enter the contest directly and instead extended support to Nathwani.
The move has added a new dimension to the race for the second seat, where the ruling INDIA bloc has fielded Congress nominee Pranav Jha alongside JMM candidate Baidyanath Ram.
INDIA Bloc Files Joint Nominations
Earlier in the day, JMM candidate Baidyanath Ram and Congress candidate Pranav Jha also filed their nomination papers. Chief Minister Hemant Soren accompanied both candidates during the filing of nominations, signalling the ruling alliance’s resolve to remain united in its bid to secure both Rajya Sabha seats.
The INDIA bloc has projected Baidyanath Ram, a former minister, as its Dalit face in the contest, while Congress has reposed faith in senior party functionary Pranav Jha for the second seat.
Cross-Party Outreach Fuels Speculation
Nathwani’s nomination comes days after he met both BJP leaders and Chief Minister Hemant Soren, fuelling speculation about the extent of support he may attract across party lines.
A three-time Rajya Sabha member, Nathwani has maintained close political and social links in Jharkhand over the years. His long association with the state and ability to engage leaders across the political spectrum have made him a formidable contender despite contesting as an Independent.
Political observers believe Nathwani’s entry has transformed what initially appeared to be a straightforward contest into a more complex battle, particularly for the second seat.
Numbers and Stakes
Polling for two Rajya Sabha seats from Jharkhand is scheduled for June 18. One seat fell vacant following the death of JMM founder Shibu Soren, while the term of BJP MP Deepak Prakash is ending on June 21.
A candidate requires 28 first-preference votes to secure election.
In the 81-member Assembly, the INDIA bloc has 56 MLAs — JMM (34), Congress (16), RJD (4) and CPI(ML) Liberation (2). The NDA has 24 MLAs — BJP (21), AJSU (1), JD(U) (1) and LJP (Ram Vilas) (1). The Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha has one MLA.
Congress Faces New Challenge
The Congress, which has fielded Pranav Jha, may now find the road to the Rajya Sabha more challenging than anticipated.
With the BJP openly backing Nathwani and senior party leaders publicly standing behind his candidature, the election is no longer being viewed solely through the prism of alliance arithmetic. Attention is now focused on whether Nathwani can attract support beyond the NDA’s strength in the Assembly and recreate the cross-party backing that helped him secure earlier Rajya Sabha terms.
Nathwani Banks on Track Record
Speaking after filing his nomination, Nathwani expressed confidence in receiving support and said he preferred to focus on his work rather than political calculations.
He highlighted his contributions to Jharkhand during his previous tenures, including initiatives in healthcare, infrastructure and social development, and said he remained committed to working for the state’s growth.
With voting scheduled for June 18, Nathwani’s candidature has injected fresh intrigue into the Rajya Sabha race, setting the stage for a closely watched political contest where numbers, strategy and cross-party equations could prove decisive.