Administrator
08 June 2026
Parimal Nathwani filed nomination for RS Polls 2026 in Ranchi, Jharkhand (picture courtesy special arrangement)
Two seats. Three contestants. The battle of votes in the Rajya Sabha poll 2026 in Jharkhand has become triangular.
This is solely because instead of fielding its candidate, the BJP backed industrialist Parimal Nathwani, Director, Corporate Affairs at Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and a close aide and advisor of industrialist Mukesh Ambani.
Nathwani filed his nomination for Rajya Sabha polls in Jharkhand as an independent candidate with the support of BJP MLAs.
JMM candidate Baidyanath Ram and Congress candidate Pranav Jha had also filed their nominations today in the presence of Chief Minister Hemant Soren.
After landing in Ranchi and visiting the headquarters of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Ranchi to seek the saffron party's support, Nathwani had also met Hemant Soren.
Nathwani is three-time member of the Rajya Sabha.His entry into politics ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections has been carefully crafted electoral strategy.
With Nathwani securing BJP's support, it will defiantly pose a significant challenge for the Congress.
Polling for two Rajya Sabha seats in Jharkhand will take place on June 18. One of the Rajya Sabha seats fell vacant following the death of JMM co-founder Shibu Soren. The second seat fell vacant as the term of BJP member Deepak Prakash is ending on June 21.
Notably, a candidate needs a minimum of 28 first-preference votes to secure victory.
Jharkhand Assembly has a strength of 81 members. Of these, the INDIA bloc has 56 MLAs -- 34 from the JMM, 16 from the Congress, four from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and two from CPI(ML) Liberation. On the other hand, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has 24 MLAs -- 21 from the BJP and one each from the LJP (Ram Vilas), AJSU and JD(U).The Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha also has an MLA.
Nathwani’s first tenure in the Rajya Sabha was from 2008 to 2014. Back then, he was elected to the upper House as an independent candidate, and according to several media reports, many legislators of the JMM and RJD had cross-voted in his favour.
The second tenure was from 2014 to 2020 when he got elected to Rajya Sabha with support of the BJP and the AJSU. Nathwani got elected to the Rajya Sabha for a third term from 2020 from Andhra Pradesh, with support of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP).During this long period of time, Nathwani is credited to have done praiseworthy works for the poor, marginalised and minority community. His constructed cremation ground along the Harmu river in Ranchi continued to showcase his contribution.
Now, entry as an independent candidate with BJP support has sparked a buzz in state politics. Meeting Soren and visiting Jharkhand BJP headquarters suggest Nathwani has secured support of both camps, and notably, the saffron party has fielded just one candidate for these Rajya Sabha elections.
However, this will be a trouble for the Congress, which has nominated senior party functionary Pranav Jha for the biennial polls. Meanwhile, the JMM has fielded former minister Baidyanath Ram.
Although BJP's Gourav Vallabh had purchased nomination papers, there was no mention of him during the actual nomination filing process.
JMM's victory in one seat is certain. The Grand Alliance holds a total of 56 MLAs. Of these, 34 belong to the JMM. Winning a single seat requires 28 votes; thus, a JMM victory in one seat is assured.
After utilising 28 first-preference votes for the JMM candidate, six votes will remain surplus.
The Congress has 16 MLAs in the Assembly. Additionally, there are four RJD MLAs and two CPI(ML) MLAs. If all remain united, a Congress victory is certain.But this is easer prediction than possibility.
BJP, on the other hand, has not fielded any candidate and will support Parimal Nathwani. Within the NDA fold, BJP holds 21 votes, while AJSU, JD(U), and LJP hold one vote each, making a total of 24 votes. This leaves them four votes short of victory; however, Nathwani could win if cross-voting takes place.
But one must note that JMM has said the INDIA bloc remains united and the alliance will win both the seats.
"Soren chaired a meeting of INDIA bloc legislators. It was unanimously decided that both the nominees and other leaders will gather at the CM's office in the Assembly and thereafter proceed for filing nominations," JMM general secretary and spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya told reporters.
