Cross-Voting Hits INDIA Bloc As NDA-Backed Nathwani Wins Jharkhand Seat, ZPM Makes Rajya Sabha Debut

Last Updated:June 19, 2026, 09:12 IST

With roughly JMM (29), Congress (17), and supporting MLAs, INDIA bloc’s combined strength was seen as sufficient to ensure both seats.

In the most consequential outcome of the June 18 Rajya Sabha elections, NDA-backed independent candidate Parimal Nathwani won one of the two Rajya Sabha seats from Jharkhand, defeating Congress nominee Pranav Jha in a result that immediately exposed cracks within the INDIA bloc. The second seat went to Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-backed candidate Baidhyanath Ram, meaning the ruling alliance in the state failed to convert its apparent numerical strength in the Assembly into a clean sweep. The outcome came as a shock to opposition leaders, who had expected both seats to be comfortably secured based on their combined legislative numbers.

The result from Jharkhand quickly became the defining political story of an otherwise broadly predictable set of Rajya Sabha elections. The INDIA bloc, led in the state by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha with Congress as a key partner, appeared well-positioned to win both seats. Instead, internal voting behaviour inside the Assembly altered the outcome, turning what was expected to be a straightforward victory into a politically sensitive setback.

Cross-Voting And Abstentions

The Rajya Sabha election in Jharkhand was effectively decided by preference distribution under the single transferable vote system, where MLAs’ votes are weighted and candidates need a specific quota to win. Based on the Assembly strength, the INDIA bloc was expected to comfortably cross the required threshold for two candidates. With roughly JMM (29), Congress (17), and supporting MLAs, the bloc’s combined strength was seen as sufficient to ensure both seats.

However, the actual voting revealed a different picture. Even a deviation of 4–6 MLAs – through abstention or cross-voting – was enough to disrupt the second seat outcome. Reports indicated that Nathwani benefitted from precisely this kind of fragmentation, where opposition votes did not consolidate behind a single second candidate. This allowed him to overtake the Congress nominee in the final tally, turning what should have been a mathematically secure seat for the INDIA bloc into a loss.

As counting progressed, it became increasingly clear that the INDIA bloc had suffered from cross-voting and possible abstentions among its own MLAs. In Rajya Sabha elections, voting is conducted through a secret ballot, which means party whips cannot be strictly enforced in practice, and individual legislators retain the ability to deviate from expected instructions.

Reports suggested that the ruling coalition’s internal discipline did not hold uniformly, and that at least a section of MLAs did not vote in line with the INDIA bloc’s expectations. This deviation changed the trajectory of the contest in real time, converting what was assumed to be a numerical advantage into a split result. While the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha managed to retain one seat, the Congress was left empty-handed, intensifying scrutiny over alliance coordination.

The defeat of the Congress candidate triggered immediate political unease within the alliance. Congress leaders pointed to what they described as a breakdown in coordination and raised concerns over possible betrayal through cross-voting. The loss was particularly significant because party strategists had believed that their candidate’s position was secure based on pre-election calculations of support within the Assembly.

Within the INDIA bloc, the outcome reopened familiar questions about cohesion in state-level alliances, especially in situations where multiple parties must rely on shared discipline in secret ballot elections. The result added to ongoing internal tensions within opposition formations, where unity at the national level does not always translate into consistent behaviour at the state level.

NDA Gains As Opposition Vote Splits Decide Outcome

Although the BJP itself did not directly win a seat in Jharkhand, the victory of Parimal Nathwani was widely seen as a result of opposition fragmentation rather than NDA numerical dominance. The win demonstrated how even without a formal majority, strategically placed candidates can benefit from splits within larger coalitions. Nathwani’s success was driven less by his own declared base and more by the failure of the INDIA bloc to consolidate its full strength behind a single second candidate.

The June 18 Rajya Sabha elections in Jharkhand ultimately reinforced a key political reality: having numbers in the Assembly is necessary, but not sufficient in secret ballot elections. The INDIA bloc’s failure to convert an apparent 45+ MLA backing advantage into two seats, and instead settling for a 1–1 split with an NDA-backed independent, underscored how fragile alliance discipline can reshape outcomes. In the end, a deviation of just a few votes proved decisive enough to alter not just the result, but also the political narrative around opposition unity and internal cohesion.

Mizoram Elects Lone Rajya Sabha MP As ZPM Makes Historic Entry

In Mizoram, the lone Rajya Sabha seat was won by ruling Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) candidate K Laltluangkima, marking the party’s first-ever representation in the Upper House. The election was largely one-sided, with the ZPM enjoying a clear majority in the state Assembly, which has 40 elected seats, allowing its nominee to secure victory without serious contest. The result was also notable because opposition parties, including the BJP and Congress, largely stayed away from active contestation, with reports indicating minimal resistance and a relatively smooth voting process. The outcome is being seen as a symbolic milestone for the ZPM, which has now extended its influence from state governance to national parliamentary representation.

About the Author

Pragati Ratti

Pragati is a News Editor at news18.com. Having headed the Business and Viral sections, Pragati now ideates, writes and edits long-form features and articles on national and global affairs. She ensures...Read More

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