Jharkhand Rajya Sabha Polls Underway Amidst High Stakes & Cross-Voting Concerns
Jharkhand Rajya Sabha Polls Underway Amidst High Stakes & Cross-Voting Concerns
Voting is on for two crucial Rajya Sabha seats in Jharkhand! Three candidates battle it out, with fears of cross-voting adding drama. Will the INDIA bloc secure both seats, or will BJP-backed Parimal Nathwani emerge vict
Voting is currently in full swing for two significant Rajya Sabha seats in Jharkhand today, Thursday, June 18, 2026. The polls are taking place on the Assembly premises, with tight security measures in place to ensure a peaceful process.
Three hopefuls are vying for these coveted spots in the Upper House of Parliament. They are BJP-backed Independent candidate Parimal Nathwani, Baidyanath Ram from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), and Pranav Jha representing the Congress party.
The atmosphere is thick with anticipation and, notably, a palpable fear of cross-voting. This concern has been a significant talking point leading up to and during the election. All legislators from the NDA arrived at the Assembly directly from a hotel where they had been camped, while Congress MLAs reached the premises together in a bus, highlighting the close watch each bloc is keeping on its members. Chief Minister Hemant Soren was also seen casting his vote.
BJP chief whip Naveen Jaiswal, who was among the first to cast his ballot, stated that 21 BJP legislators, along with one each from AJSU party, JD(U), and LJP (RV), had voted, all supporting NDA-backed candidate Parimal Nathwani. Nathwani himself expressed strong confidence in his victory, saying, "I have support from all parties, and I am assured of my victory. Everything will be clear by the evening." JD(U) leader Saryu Rai also confirmed his vote for the NDA-backed nominee.
On the other side, RJD legislator Suresh Paswan was equally confident, asserting that the INDIA bloc candidates would undoubtedly secure their victory. Congress minister Shilpi Neha Tirkey echoed this sentiment, stating that the INDIA bloc possesses sufficient numbers and is confident of winning both Rajya Sabha seats. The INDIA bloc legislators commenced casting their votes shortly after their NDA counterparts.
The BJP-led NDA currently holds 24 MLAs in the 81-member Assembly, falling short by four votes of the 28 first-preference votes needed to secure a seat. This makes the possibility of cross-voting even more critical for the outcomes. The INDIA bloc, with a reported 56 MLAs, seemingly has the numerical advantage to clinch both seats, but the BJP's strategic backing of an independent candidate is a clear attempt to disrupt this balance, reminiscent of past electoral surprises.
Polling began at 9 a.m. and is scheduled to conclude at 4 p.m. Following the close of voting, the counting of ballots is expected to commence around 5 p.m., with results anticipated later in the evening.
