Jharkhand Rajya Sabha polls: Nathwani and Ram win as cross-voting allegations spark row

Patna: A day after AICC in-charge for Jharkhand K Raju held RJD and CPI(ML) responsible for Congress candidate Pranav Jha’s defeat in the Rajya Sabha election, both parties on Friday quashed the allegations and asserted that their MLAs voted in favour of Jha in the polls.Soon after the election results were out, Raju alleged that MLAs from RJD and CPI (ML) cross-voted in the polls, which led to his party candidate's defeat. In the polls held on Thursday, JMM candidate Baidyanath Ram and NDA-backed  Independent candidate Parimal Nathwani were elected.CPI (ML) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya wrote to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge registering his party's “strong protest” against the allegation. He also called the allegation malicious and asserted in the letter that CPI(ML) had been one of the most committed constituents of the INDIA bloc since its formation. He warned against “unwarranted allegations” that undermined mutual trust among the alliance parties.Assam Seeks Higher Access To Externally Aided Projects As CM Sarma Highlights ₹53,000 Crore Development Push “This is a malicious lie. Both our MLAs voted for Mr Jha as planned in the meeting of opposition MLAs. Our polling agents duly verified the votes before the ballots were cast,” he said.“We call upon you (Kharge) to ask Congress leaders to stop making unverified and unwarranted allegations against allies that undermine mutual trust among parties of the INDIA bloc,” Bhattacharya wrote in his letter.Meanwhile, RJD national general secretary Bhola Yadav  asserted that all four party MLAs had voted for the INDIA bloc candidate Pranav Jha. “We came here to conduct the election, and our members voted for the Congress candidate. The (Congress) incharge here is making baseless statements only to hide his own mistakes. I reject and condemn those statements,” he added. However, Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed reiterated the party’s allegation, saying: “We won all (five Rajya Sabha seats) in Karnataka. So don’t blame the Congress party. The RJD and the CPI-ML cross-voted.” Cross-Voting Shock Exposes Deep Cracks In BJP-JD(S) Alliance, Hands Congress Strategic Edge Meanwhile, JMM general secretary Vinod Pandey stated that all 34 party MLAs cast their votes 100 percent, supporting both alliance candidates. He stated that he himself was present at the polling station throughout the voting as a party agent and monitored the voting process. He said that the Mahagathbandhan would review the Rajya Sabha election results and determine the reasons why the expected results were not achieved. This will help address such shortcomings in the future and strengthen the alliance at the national level in its political fight against the BJP, he added.In the polls, Nathwani polled 28 votes, while Jha secured 20. Ram received 30 votes. Three votes—two from the BJP, one from the Congress—were     declared invalid. The ruling INDIA bloc has 56 members in the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly, while the BJP-led NDA has 24 MLAs. 

In a setback for the Congress in Jharkhand, NDA-backed independent candidate Parimal Nathwani and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) nominee Baidyanath Ram emerged victorious in the Rajya Sabha elections, while Congress candidate Pranav Jha suffered an unexpected defeat.NDA-supported Independent candidate Parimal Nathwani elected in Jharkhand Rajya Sabha polls following cross-voting: Official. JMM candidate Baidyanath Ram elected to Rajya Sabha from Jharkhand: Official. pic.twitter.com/8e2UbWWrAG— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 18, 2026 Although the Election Commission had not officially announced the results by late evening, sources associated with the counting process confirmed the victory of Nathwani and Ram. The outcome meant that one of the state’s two Rajya Sabha seats went to the JMM, while the other was secured by the NDA-backed independent candidate.Pranav Jha, fielded by the Congress on behalf of the ruling Mahagathbandhan alliance, had been widely expected to win. However, the final voting pattern produced a surprising result that political observers described as a major blow to both the Congress and the opposition alliance.During the counting process, reports surfaced that three votes were kept on hold before eventually being declared invalid. Jharkhand Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore acknowledged that the status of these ballots had initially been unclear before they were rejected.Jharkhand Rajya Sabha Polls Begin Amid Tight Security & Cross-Voting Fears; Battle Intensifies For Crucial Second Seat | VideoPolitical speculation intensified over possible cross-voting or lack of coordination within the Mahagathbandhan. According to sources, legislators from alliance partners, including the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and CPI(ML), may not have voted in complete unity. The alleged internal rift is believed to have hurt the Congress candidate’s prospects while benefiting Nathwani.The election outcome has sparked fresh debate over opposition cohesion in Jharkhand ahead of future political contests. Attention is now focused on the Election Commission’s formal declaration and the reactions likely to follow from various political parties.Reacting to the result, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey congratulated Parimal Nathwani on his victory and described it as a significant political defeat for the Mahagathbandhan. He claimed the outcome exposed weaknesses in the opposition’s claims of unity and highlighted divisions within the alliance during the closely watched Rajya Sabha election.

Three candidates — BJP-backed Independent nominee Parimal Nathwani, JMM's Baidyanath Ram and Pranav Jha of the Congress — are in the fray for the two seats

Ranchi: Voting began for the election to two Rajya Sabha seats in Jharkhand on Thursday, amid adequate security arrangements on the assembly premises, an official said.VIDEO | Ranchi: Voting for two Rajya Sabha seats from Jharkhand today; security arrangements in place at Vidhan Sabha. (Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/bpYxbNoCYf— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 18, 2026 Candidates and polling detailsThree candidates - BJP-backed Independent nominee Parimal Nathwani, JMM’s Baidyanath Ram and Pranav Jha of the Congress - are in the fray for the two seats.The voting started at 9 am at a polling station set up in the assembly complex amid fear of cross-voting, and will continue till 4 pm."All arrangements, including adequate security, are in place to hold the polling peacefully," the official said, adding that the counting of votes is likely to commence at 5 pm.Party strength in assemblyThe BJP-led NDA has 24 MLAs, four short of the minimum of 28 first-preference votes required in the 81-member assembly to secure a berth in the Upper House of Parliament.#WATCH | Ranchi, Jharkhand: On the NDA meeting at the BJP State Office ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections, Independent Rajya Sabha candidate Parimal Nathwani says, “A meeting was held with those who had come, and everyone presented their views. The discussion focused on how to… pic.twitter.com/0AT15236LN— ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2026 The ruling INDIA bloc, including the JMM and the Congress, has 56 members in the House.JMM’s Baidyanath Ram is expected to win easily, as the party has 34 members in the state assembly.Ranchi, Jharkhand: Ahead of the Rajya Sabha election voting, JMM Rajya Sabha candidate Baidyanath Ram says, "Look, our alliance is united, and there is no doubt that both our candidates will win. We are fully prepared, and tomorrow both candidates will emerge victorious." pic.twitter.com/RXYLEFaccB— IANS (@ians_india) June 17, 2026 Among the other INDIA bloc constituents, the Congress has 16 MLAs, the RJD has 4 legislators and the CPI(ML) Liberation two.The NDA MLAs include 21 from the BJP and one each from the LJP (Ram Vilas), AJSU Party and the JD(U). The Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha has one MLA.Ranchi, Jharkhand: After the meeting at the Chief Minister's residence, Congress candidate Pranav Jha for Rajya Sabha election says, "We conducted a mock poll, and the polling process was completed successfully with full participation. We are confident that both candidates of the… pic.twitter.com/lSKYWOU4zj— IANS (@ians_india) June 16, 2026 Contest for second seatAll eyes are on the second seat, in which a tough fight between Congress’ Jha and NDA-backed Nathwani is likely.The NDA's 24 MLAs include 21 from the BJP and one each from the LJP (Ram Vilas), AJSU Party and the JD(U). The Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha has one MLA.Meenakshi Natarajan Rajya Sabha Nomination Rejection Row: PCC Chief Jitu Patwari Detained As Protesting Congress Marches Towards Rashtrapati Bhavan In Delhi After SC Dismisses Natrajan's Plea -- VIDEO Campaign and security measuresBoth the ruling and opposition camps were leaving no stone unturned to keep their MLAs intact ahead of the polling.The NDA MLAs were shifted to a hotel in Ranchi on Tuesday, while the ruling INDIA bloc was busy holding meetings with its MLAs to thwart chances of cross-voting.The INDIA bloc MLAs, including those from the Congress, participated in a mock poll during a meeting at Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s residence on Tuesday night to make the new legislators aware of the exercise.(Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

Jharkhand is witnessing a keenly contested Rajya Sabha election for two seats today. With three candidates in the fray, including BJP-backed Parimal Nathwani, JMM's Baidyanath Ram, and Congress' Pranav Jha, the focus is on the battle for the second seat. Both ruling and opposition blocs are employing strategies to prevent cross-voting, with MLAs housed in hotels and mock polls conducted.