Parimal Nathwani wins Jharkhand Rajya Sabha seat in NDA's 4th-term return
Synopsis
Parimal Nathwani's Rajya Sabha win from Jharkhand is his fourth overall term and third from the state — a remarkable streak for an Independent backed by the NDA. With the INDIA bloc and NDA splitting the two seats, neither alliance can claim a decisive edge in Jharkhand's upper-house arithmetic.
Key Takeaways
NDA -backed Independent Parimal Nathwani won the Rajya Sabha election from Jharkhand on 18 June with 28 votes .
JMM 's Baijnath Ram won the second seat with 31 votes ; Congress candidate Pranav Jha was defeated with 21 votes .
This is Nathwani's fourth Rajya Sabha term overall and his third from Jharkhand , where his parliamentary career began in 2008 .
All 81 MLAs voted at the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly complex; two votes for Nathwani and one for Jha were declared invalid.
The result gives the INDIA bloc and the NDA one seat each from the state.
NDA-backed Independent candidate Parimal Nathwani and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) nominee Baijnath Ram won the two Rajya Sabha seats from Jharkhand on 18 June, with Congress-supported candidate Pranav Jha falling short in a closely watched legislative election. The outcome means both the INDIA bloc and the NDA secured one seat each from the state.
Vote Count and Result
According to the vote tally, JMM's Baijnath Ram led with 31 votes, while Nathwani secured 28 votes — though two votes cast in his favour were declared invalid. Congress candidate Jha received 21 votes, with one vote cancelled. All 81 MLAs of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly exercised their franchise at the Assembly complex, with counting commencing in the evening following peaceful polling.
Nathwani's Reaction
Nathwani, who first entered the Rajya Sabha from Jharkhand in 2008, expressed deep sentiment over the result. 'Deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve the fourth term as the Member of Rajya Sabha. This moment is filled with profound emotion as this will be my third term from Jharkhand, the very soil from where my Parliamentary journey began in 2008. It is a matter of immense pride and humility to return once again to my karmabhoomi,' he said in a post on X. He added: 'With renewed commitment and sincerity, every effort will continue to advance the interests and aspirations of Jharkhand and its people. Johar Jharkhand!'
Nathwani also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and the NDA and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership for their support.
BJP's Response
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey congratulated Nathwani, stating: 'Congratulations to NDA-supported Rajya Sabha candidate from Jharkhand, Shri Parimal Nathwani ji, on his victory; he received a total of 28 votes, while the Congress candidate received only 20; the Mahagathbandhan suffered a severe defeat.' Notably, the vote figures cited by Dubey differ marginally from the official count, which credited Jha with 21 votes.
Political Context
The Rajya Sabha election had attracted considerable political attention in Jharkhand. Both alliances held multiple pre-poll strategy meetings to consolidate their legislative numbers. Chief Minister Hemant Soren, along with leaders from ruling and opposition benches, cast votes during the day. The final ballot was cast by JMM leader and minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu. This is the third consecutive Rajya Sabha term that Nathwani has secured from Jharkhand, underscoring his sustained political foothold in the state despite contesting as an Independent backed by the NDA rather than as a direct BJP nominee.
Point of View
Not a BJP candidate, which reflects the alliance's calibrated arithmetic in a state where JMM dominates the ruling coalition. The Congress's loss — despite being part of the ruling INDIA bloc — raises questions about internal legislative discipline, given that the bloc held enough numbers to win both seats had its votes held firm. The marginal vote discrepancy flagged by BJP's Nishikant Dubey versus the official count also points to the fine margins at play. With Jharkhand heading into a politically charged period, this Rajya Sabha result is as much a signal about alliance cohesion as it is about upper-house representation.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Rajya Sabha election from Jharkhand on 18 June?
JMM's Baijnath Ram and NDA-backed Independent Parimal Nathwani won the two Rajya Sabha seats from Jharkhand on 18 June. Congress-supported candidate Pranav Jha was defeated.
How many votes did Parimal Nathwani receive?
Parimal Nathwani received 28 valid votes. Two additional votes cast in his favour were declared invalid.
Is this Parimal Nathwani's first Rajya Sabha term?
No. This is Nathwani's fourth Rajya Sabha term overall and his third consecutive term from Jharkhand, where he first became an MP in 2008.
Why did the Congress candidate lose despite being part of the ruling alliance in Jharkhand?
Congress candidate Pranav Jha received 21 votes — fewer than the NDA-backed Nathwani's 28. The result suggests the INDIA bloc's legislative numbers did not consolidate fully behind both its candidates, though neither side has publicly attributed the shortfall to cross-voting.
What is the political significance of the Jharkhand Rajya Sabha result?
The result splits the two seats evenly between the INDIA bloc and the NDA, giving neither side a clear upper-house advantage from the state. It also highlights the NDA's strategy of fielding Nathwani as an Independent rather than a direct BJP nominee to maximise cross-party appeal.
