RS Polls: 3 Candidates, 2 Seats And 1 Wild Card. Why Jharkhand Is The Only Real Contest Today

Last Updated:June 18, 2026, 08:24 IST

Rajya Sabha Elections 2026: The poll uses a preference-based voting system and while parties monitor voting, history shows that legislators don't always stick to party lines

Jharkhand Rajya Sabha Election 2026: On paper, the Rajya Sabha election in Jharkhand should have been straightforward.

The ruling INDIA bloc has 56 MLAs in the 81-member Assembly, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA has only 24. Yet, with voting set to begin for two Rajya Sabha seats, both camps are behaving as if they are fighting a cliff-hanger. MLAs have been herded into hotels, strategy meetings have stretched late into the night, and fears of cross-voting have dominated political conversations.

The reason is simple: this election is not really about the first seat. It is about the second.

The Contest At A Glance

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

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Under the Rajya Sabha voting system, a candidate requires 28 first-preference votes to secure victory. With 56 MLAs, the INDIA bloc theoretically has enough numbers to win both seats. But the arithmetic becomes tight after the first seat is accounted for.

JMM alone has enough strength to comfortably push Baidyanath Ram over the 28-vote threshold. Most observers expect him to win without difficulty. But the real battle begins after that.

The Second Seat And The Nathwani Challenge

The BJP has not fielded its own candidate. Instead, it has thrown its weight behind Parimal Nathwani, the businessman-politician who represented Jharkhand in the Rajya Sabha from 2008 to 2020 and is currently a Rajya Sabha MP from Andhra Pradesh.

The NDA’s calculation is straightforward. It knows it lacks the 28 votes required for a direct win. Nathwani’s victory therefore depends on attracting support beyond the NDA’s own camp and benefiting from any cross-voting within the ruling alliance.

That possibility is precisely what has rattled the INDIA bloc.

Why Cross-Voting Is the Biggest Fear

The Rajya Sabha election uses a preference-based voting system, and while parties issue whips and closely monitor voting, history shows that legislators do not always stick to party lines.

The BJP senses an opportunity because recent Rajya Sabha elections in states such as Bihar and Odisha produced surprise outcomes after cross-voting helped NDA-backed candidates outperform expectations. Those examples have become a cautionary tale for opposition parties across the country.

The INDIA bloc insists it has the numbers. But its confidence is being tested by the fact that even a handful of unexpected votes could alter the outcome of the second seat.

Enter Hotel Politics

That explains the unusual scenes in Ranchi.

The NDA moved its MLAs to a luxury hotel ahead of voting, arguing that keeping legislators together would prevent poaching attempts and ensure unity.

The ruling alliance responded with its own coordination meetings at chief minister Hemant Soren’s residence, while media reports spoke of mock voting exercises and intensive strategy sessions designed to prevent errors and defections.

Why The Election Matters Beyond Two Seats

The outcome will not alter the balance of power in Jharkhand’s Assembly. But politically, it carries outsized significance.

For Hemant Soren and the INDIA bloc, winning both seats would demonstrate coalition discipline and show that the alliance can withstand pressure tactics and poaching attempts.

For the BJP, a Nathwani victory would be presented as proof that the NDA can punch above its numerical weight and exploit cracks within opposition alliances. It would also fit into a broader BJP strategy of maximising Rajya Sabha gains even in states where it is not in power.

For now, a contest that should have been routine has turned into one of the most closely watched Rajya Sabha elections of the year.

About the Author

Apoorva Misra

Apoorva Misra is a News Editor at News18.com with a keen interest in politics and current affairs. She loves uncovering fresh angles and telling stories through long-form features and explainers. Foll...Read More

News explainers RS Polls: 3 Candidates, 2 Seats And 1 Wild Card. Why Jharkhand Is The Only Real Contest Today

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