• Source:JND

Amid cross-voting in the Rajya Sabha elections in Jharkhand, NDA-backed Independent candidate Parimal Nathwani on Thursday won one of the two seats, defeating Congress candidate Pranav Jha. The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) also secured the other seat, with its candidate Baidyanath Ram being elected. 

One seat goes to JMM

According to news agency PTI report, citing an official, Nathwani secured 28 votes and was declared the winner, while Congress candidate Pranav Jha received 20 votes. JMM's Ram won with 30 votes. Three votes, including two from the BJP and one from the Congress were declared invalid.

BJP MLAs React

Reacting to Nathwani's win, BJP MLA Neera Yadav said, "We are deeply grateful to the MLAs who cooperated and we thank them wholeheartedly for the thoughtful voting..." BJP MLA Pradip Prasad also expressed happiness and said, "NDA got 28 votes, the JMM got 30, and the Congress 19. 3 votes were cancelled. Parimal Nathwani got 28 votes. MLAs listened to their conscience and this was bound to happen."

The BJP-led NDA, which has 24 MLAs, fell short of the 28 first-preference votes required in the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly to secure a Rajya Sabha seat. In contrast, the ruling INDIA bloc, comprising the JMM and Congress, holds 56 members in the House. 

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Why was the second seat closely watched?

While Ram was expected to win comfortably as the party enjoys sufficient support in the state assembly, all eyes were on the second seat, where a close contest was expected between Congress candidate Jha and NDA-backed Nathwani. Both sides had made strong efforts to keep their MLAs aligned ahead of the voting.

The NDA had shifted its MLAs to a hotel in Ranchi on Tuesday to prevent any cross-voting, while the ruling INDIA bloc held continuous meetings with its legislators to ensure discipline. INDIA bloc MLAs, including those from the Congress, also took part in a mock poll at Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s residence on Tuesday night to familiarise themselves with the voting process.

Congress MLA Suresh Baitha said, "All 56 MLAs of the INDIA bloc are united, and we will win both the Rajya Sabha seats."

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