Ranchi, June 7: The race for two Rajya Sabha seats in Jharkhand, scheduled for June 18, has taken an intriguing political turn. Despite the ruling India Block having a sufficient majority to secure both seats, the active participation of independent candidates, discussions of potential cross-voting, and opposition strategies have made the electoral contest more captivating.
So far, six individuals have purchased nomination papers for this election. The Congress party has nominated political advisor Pranav Jha, while the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has fielded senior leader and former minister Baijnath Ram, a prominent figure from the Scheduled Caste community. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has yet to formally announce its candidate, although discussions surrounding the potential candidacy of national spokesperson Gaurav Vallabh have emerged following his purchase of nomination papers.
The excitement escalated when businessman and former Rajya Sabha member Parimal Nathwani bought nomination papers as an independent candidate. He subsequently met with Chief Minister Hemant Soren. Additionally, senior leader Vijay Sai Reddy from the YSR Congress Party in Andhra Pradesh has also purchased nomination papers, further heightening political intrigue. The emergence of these two names has intensified speculation about possible political maneuvering and cross-voting.
Another local candidate, Ravi Yadav, has also acquired nomination papers, but gathering support from ten legislators as proposers is expected to be challenging for him. Tensions have arisen within the ruling India alliance over the two Rajya Sabha seats, particularly after Congress announced Pranav Jha’s name without consulting the JMM, leading to dissatisfaction among JMM leaders.
Later, Congress observers, former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Ajay Sharma, met with Chief Minister Hemant Soren to clarify the party’s position. To win one Rajya Sabha seat in the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly, 28 first-preference votes are required. The Grand Alliance holds a total of 56 legislators, including 34 from JMM, 16 from Congress, 4 from RJD, and 2 from CPI(ML), which is sufficient for victory in both seats.
On the other hand, the NDA, comprising BJP, AJSU, JD(U), and LJP, has 24 legislators. The only other legislator is from the JLK party led by Jairam Mahto. The Election Commission issued a notification on June 1. The last date for filing nominations is June 8, with scrutiny scheduled for June 9, and the deadline for withdrawal set for June 11. Voting and counting will take place on June 18.
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