Baidyanath Ram, Parimal Nathwani Win Rajya Sabha Polls from Jharkhand

Results Raise Questions Over Unity of Ruling Grand Alliance

Ranchi, June 18: The suspense surrounding the Rajya Sabha elections in Jharkhand came to an end on Thursday with Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) candidate Baidyanath Ram and NDA-backed Independent candidate Parimal Nathwani emerging victorious from the two seats that went to polls. The outcome has also sparked political debate over the unity of the ruling Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan), as the Congress failed to secure the second seat despite claims of full support from alliance partners.

Voting for the Rajya Sabha elections was held in the 81-member Jharkhand Legislative Assembly. Three candidates were in the fray—JMM nominee Baidyanath Ram, Congress candidate Pranav Jha, and Independent candidate Parimal Nathwani, who was backed by the NDA.

Baidyanath Ram secured the highest number of votes and comfortably won a seat in the Upper House. Nathwani also crossed the required mark to secure victory. Congress candidate Pranav Jha, however, fell short and was eliminated from the contest.

According to the final results, Baidyanath Ram received 31 valid votes. Nathwani obtained 30 votes, but two were declared invalid, leaving him with 28 valid votes—enough to secure the second seat. Pranav Jha received 20 votes, one of which was declared invalid. Out of the 81 votes cast, three were declared invalid.

Questions Over Cross-Voting

The election result has intensified speculation about cross-voting within the ruling alliance. Before the election, leaders of the INDIA bloc had confidently claimed that both Rajya Sabha seats would be won by alliance candidates. Congress and JMM leaders repeatedly asserted that there was no possibility of dissent or cross-voting among alliance legislators.

However, Nathwani’s victory has fuelled speculation that some legislators from alliance partners may have voted against the Congress candidate. Although no party has officially confirmed cross-voting, political observers believe the result points to cracks within the Grand Alliance. The Congress, which was expecting support from all alliance MLAs, suffered a setback as it failed to secure enough votes for victory.

Nathwani Returns to Rajya Sabha for Third Term

Parimal Nathwani is a well-known figure in Jharkhand politics and is associated with Reliance Industries. He has represented Jharkhand in the Rajya Sabha twice before and has maintained a strong presence in the state despite being an Independent candidate.

Nathwani first entered the Rajya Sabha from Jharkhand in 2008 as an Independent candidate. He was re-elected in 2014 and has now secured a third term in the Upper House. His latest victory is being seen as a significant achievement for the NDA, which backed his candidature despite lacking sufficient numbers in the Assembly on its own.

Baidyanath Ram’s Journey from Teacher to Parliament

The victory of Baidyanath Ram marks another milestone in his long political career. Born in 1967 in Parsahi village of Latehar district, Ram completed his education in Latehar before earning a degree in Political Science from Banwari Sahu College.

Before entering politics, he worked as a teacher at Saraswati Shishu Vidya Mandir for nearly three years. After the creation of Jharkhand in 2000, he resigned from his teaching job and entered active politics.

Ram won the Latehar Assembly seat for the first time in 2000 on a Janata Dal (United) ticket. During his political career, he held several ministerial portfolios, including Sports, Prohibition, Health, and Education. He later joined the BJP but eventually shifted to the JMM after being denied a party ticket. His election to the Rajya Sabha now marks a new chapter in his political journey.

New Political Signals

Political analysts believe the Rajya Sabha election results could have wider implications for Jharkhand politics. While JMM successfully retained one seat through Baidyanath Ram, Nathwani’s victory has highlighted possible divisions within the ruling alliance.

The outcome is likely to trigger discussions within the Grand Alliance regarding coordination and unity among its partners. With future political battles on the horizon, the Rajya Sabha results may influence both alliance strategies and political equations in the state in the months ahead.