NDA-backed candidate Parimal Nathwani won one of two Rajya Sabha seats from Jharkhand on Thursday, June 18, 2026 [4].
The result represents a significant setback for the INDIA bloc, as cross-voting among legislators allowed the NDA to secure a seat despite lacking a sufficient number of members in the state assembly.
Nathwani, described by some reports as an Independent and others as BJP-backed [1, 4], secured 28 effective votes [1]. While some records indicate he received 30 total votes, two were declared invalid, leaving him with a final count of 28 [4].
He defeated Congress candidate Pranav Jha, who received 20 votes [2]. The second available seat was won by Baidyanath Ram of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), who received 30 votes [2].
The victory was made possible through support from legislators who deviated from their party lines. This cross-voting shifted the expected outcome of the election, which is conducted by the state's elected representatives rather than the general public.
Reports said the surprise win for the NDA candidate highlights internal fractures within the opposing alliance's legislative support in Jharkhand [1, 2]. The outcome ensures that the NDA maintains a presence in the upper house from the state, while the JMM retains its influence through the second seat [3].
“Parimal Nathwani won one of two Rajya Sabha seats from Jharkhand”
This result underscores the volatility of legislative loyalty in Jharkhand. By securing a seat through cross-voting, the NDA has demonstrated an ability to penetrate the INDIA bloc's ranks, potentially weakening the opposition's cohesion ahead of future electoral cycles in the region.
