NDA-backed candidate wins Jharkhand Rajya Sabha polls after cross-voting
The BJP-led NDA has 24 MLAs in the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly, four short of the 28 first-preference votes required to secure a Rajya Sabha berth. The ruling INDIA bloc, comprising the JMM, Congress and their allies, has 56 members in the House.
NDA-backed Independent Parimal Nathwani won a Rajya Sabha seat from Jharkhand amid cross-voting.
JMM's Baidyanath Ram took the second berth. Nathwani's victory came despite the NDA being short of the required numbers in the Assembly.
Amid cross-voting, NDA-backed Independent candidate Parimal Nathwani on Thursday won one of the two Rajya Sabha seats from Jharkhand, defeating Congress candidate Pranav Jha. The second seat was won by ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) candidate Baidyanath Ram.
Nathwani secured 28 votes and was declared elected, while Jha received 20 votes, according to an official. Ram polled 30 votes to win the other seat.
Voting for the two Rajya Sabha seats concluded on Thursday, with all 81 MLAs casting their votes at the polling station set up on the Assembly premises.
The results saw Nathwani emerge victorious despite the NDA lacking the required numbers on its own, indicating cross-voting during the election process.
The other seat went to JMM’s Baidyanath Ram, ensuring representation for the ruling alliance in the Upper House of Parliament.
(Nathwani takes it all)
With the victory, Nathwani has been elected to the Rajya Sabha for a historic fourth term.
He will represent Jharkhand once again after previously serving two consecutive terms as an Independent MP from the state between 2008 and 2020.
He is also credited with holding the distinction of being one of the longest-serving Independent members in the history of the Rajya Sabha. After representing Andhra Pradesh in the Upper House from 2020, his latest election marks a return to Jharkhand, which he has long described as his "karmabhoomi".
In a statement, Nathwani thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP National President Nitin Nabin, Jharkhand BJP President Aditya Sahu, BJP Legislature Party leader Babulal Marandi, BJP Chief Whip Naveen Jaiswal and all BJP and NDA legislators for their support in his victory.
Nathwani added that infrastructure development, healthcare facilities and education in rural regions would remain key priorities during his tenure.
In Madhya Pradesh, the Congress suffered a setback when Meenaskhi Natrajan's candidature was cancelled due to concealing facts about a legal case.
More cross voting expected from other states.
The rebel MPs - Sanjay Jadhav, Sanjay Deshmukh, Omraje Nimbalkar, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar and Sanjay Dina Patil - had already skipped a meeting on June 14. Before that, they also skipped Aaditya Thackeray's birthday celebrations.
Midnight flights to Delhi, fear of Congress merger: Inside Sena UBT MPs' revolt
Six Sena UBT MPs quietly reached Delhi from various destinations shortly after midnight on June 16, met Eknath Shinde and submitted a letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker.
A second split in Uddhav Thackeray's Sena faction is almost inevitable.
Late-night flights to Delhi, a secret meeting with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and a letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker - the rebellion by six Sena UBT MPs was marked by a carefully coordinated movement away from the limelight.
A second split in Uddhav Thackeray's Sena faction started taking shape shortly after midnight on June 16, sources said.
It now seems almost inevitable, as only three of the party's nine Lok Sabha MPs attended a crucial meeting on Thursday despite a whip.
ends
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