Jharkhand RS polls: CPI(ML) rejects Congress cross-voting charge, writes to Kharge
Synopsis
After Congress candidate Pranav Jha lost the Jharkhand Rajya Sabha election, Congress leaders blamed allies RJD and CPI(ML) for cross-voting. Now CPI(ML) General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya has written directly to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge calling the charges baseless — a rare formal rebuke between INDIA Bloc partners that could test the alliance's cohesion ahead of future state contests.
Key Takeaways
CPI(ML) Liberation General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya wrote to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on 19 June rejecting cross-voting allegations.
Both CPI(ML) MLAs voted for Congress candidate Pranav Jha , the party says, with polling agents verifying the votes.
RJD 's Bhola Yadav also denied cross-voting, saying all party MLAs followed directions from Lalu Prasad .
In the Jharkhand Rajya Sabha polls on 18 June , JMM 's Baijnath Ram and NDA-backed Independent Parimal Nathwani won; Congress's Jha lost.
Bhattacharya warned the accusations risk damaging INDIA Bloc unity and called on Congress to restrain leaders from making unverified allegations against allies.
CPI(ML) Liberation General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya wrote to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday, 19 June, rejecting allegations that the party's legislators voted against the Congress Rajya Sabha candidate in Jharkhand, and urging the Congress leadership to rein in leaders making what he called 'unsubstantiated statements' against allies.
What the Letter Says
Bhattacharya stated in his letter that both CPI(ML) MLAs cast their votes in favour of the Congress candidate, consistent with the inter-party understanding within the INDIA Bloc and in keeping with coalition discipline. He added that the party's authorised polling agents had verified the votes during the counting process, leaving, in his assessment, no room for doubt about cross-voting.
He warned that public accusations by Congress leaders after the results 'not only damage the party's political credibility but could also adversely affect the unity of the INDIA Bloc.' He urged the Congress leadership to ensure its leaders refrain from levelling allegations against allies without factual basis or evidence.
CPI(ML) Criticism of Media Coverage
Bhattacharya also took aim at sections of the media, saying some outlets carried the cross-voting allegations without seeking CPI(ML)'s version or independently verifying the claims. He argued this approach created unnecessary confusion at a sensitive political moment for the Opposition alliance.
RJD Also Denies Cross-Voting
RJD National General Secretary and Jharkhand President Bhola Yadav, at a separate press conference in Ranchi on Friday, similarly denied any cross-voting by his party's legislators. Yadav said all RJD MLAs voted in favour of the Congress candidate in line with instructions from party President Lalu Prasad. He claimed he was himself present as an authorised agent during voting and personally verified how his party's MLAs voted, calling the Congress charge 'baseless and unfortunate.'
Background: What Happened in the Jharkhand RS Polls
In elections to two Rajya Sabha seats from Jharkhand held on Thursday, 18 June, JMM candidate Baijnath Ram and NDA-backed Independent candidate Parimal Nathwani emerged victorious. Congress candidate Pranav Jha lost the contest. Following the results, Jharkhand Congress in-charge K. Raju and other Congress leaders alleged that allies, including the RJD and CPI(ML), had not backed the Congress nominee — allegations that both parties have now formally denied.
What This Means for the INDIA Bloc
The public spat exposes fault lines within the INDIA Bloc at the state level, even as the alliance attempts to project unity nationally. Bhattacharya underlined that CPI(ML) has been among the most committed partners of the bloc since its formation and has consistently worked to strengthen Opposition unity in states such as Bihar and Jharkhand, making the allegations, in his words, 'unfortunate.' How the Congress high command responds to the letter is likely to determine whether the episode is contained or escalates further.
Point of View
And that is unusual. Allies in coalitions typically manage such disputes through back-channel calls, not written correspondence to the party president. The fact that Bhattacharya chose to put it in writing signals that the cross-voting allegation stung enough to warrant a public record. Congress's handling of this response will be watched closely: a dismissive reply risks alienating a smaller but disciplined partner in Bihar and Jharkhand, where seat arithmetic is tight. The deeper problem is that the Jharkhand loss has created a blame vacuum — and in the absence of a credible internal inquiry, each ally is scrambling to protect its own credibility, which is precisely how bloc unity unravels from the edges.
NationPress
4 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did CPI(ML) write to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge?
CPI(ML) Liberation General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya wrote to Kharge on 19 June to formally reject allegations by Congress leaders that CPI(ML) MLAs cross-voted in the Jharkhand Rajya Sabha elections. The letter urged the Congress leadership to stop allies from making 'unsubstantiated statements' without evidence.
What happened in the Jharkhand Rajya Sabha election?
Elections to two Rajya Sabha seats from Jharkhand were held on 18 June. JMM candidate Baijnath Ram and NDA-backed Independent Parimal Nathwani won, while Congress candidate Pranav Jha lost. The defeat prompted Congress leaders to allege that allies RJD and CPI(ML) did not vote for Jha.
Did CPI(ML) MLAs actually vote for the Congress candidate?
CPI(ML) says both its MLAs voted in favour of Congress candidate Pranav Jha, consistent with INDIA Bloc coalition discipline. The party says its authorised polling agents verified the votes cast, leaving no scope for cross-voting, according to Bhattacharya's letter.
What did RJD say about the cross-voting allegations?
RJD National General Secretary and Jharkhand President Bhola Yadav denied cross-voting at a press conference in Ranchi on Friday. He said all RJD MLAs voted for the Congress candidate as directed by party President Lalu Prasad, and that he personally witnessed their votes as an authorised agent.
What does this dispute mean for the INDIA Bloc?
The public disagreement reveals internal tensions within the INDIA Bloc at the state level. Bhattacharya warned that unverified allegations against allies could damage coalition unity in Jharkhand and Bihar. How the Congress high command responds to the formal letter is expected to shape relations within the bloc going forward.
