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The biggest news of this time is coming out from the politics of Jharkhand. The high-voltage drama that was going on for the last 24 hours regarding the scrutiny of nominations for Rajya Sabha elections has now ended. The election officer has given the green signal to the nomination papers of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) supported independent candidate and well-known businessman Parimal Nathwani, declaring them completely valid. With this, the contest for two seats of the Upper House from Jharkhand has now become very interesting and triangular.
Congress’s objections rejected, election officer gave approval
Clouds of doubt were looming over Parimal Nathwani’s candidature ever since he filed his nomination on Monday. Congress and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) had lodged strong objections alleging discrepancies and incomplete information in his nomination papers. Congress claimed that Nathwani has hidden information about the companies he is director of and personal assets, and there is also an error in the way his name is written. After these complaints, the election officer had put his nomination on ‘hold’. On Wednesday, after a lengthy investigation and clarification given by Nathwani’s representatives, the Election Commission rejected all the opposition’s objections.
BJP and Congress workers came face to face outside the assembly
Just before this decision, the atmosphere in the Ranchi Assembly complex had become very heated. On one hand, Congress ministers and MLAs under the leadership of Congress state president Keshav Mahato Kamlesh staged a protest outside Gate No. 2 and raised slogans demanding cancellation of Nathwani’s nomination, while on the other hand BJP workers also came into the field. There was loud sloganeering from both the sides, due to which the political excitement in the campus reached its peak. Congress leaders allege that horse trading (buying and selling of MLAs) is being attempted on a large scale in this election.
Three warriors on two seats: The numbers game became interesting
After Parimal Nathwani’s path has been cleared, now three candidates are contesting for the two Rajya Sabha seats of Jharkhand. Dalit face Baidyanath Ram of JMM and Pranab Jha of Congress are in the fray from the ruling alliance. At the same time, due to less numerical strength, BJP has supported Parimal Nathwani instead of fielding its candidate. According to the current mathematics of Jharkhand Assembly, a minimum of 28 first preference votes are required to win a seat.
Will NDA’s ‘masterstroke’ spoil the game of the ruling party?
The ruling INDIA block currently has the strong support of 56 MLAs, making victory for both its candidates look easy. On the other hand, NDA’s tally including BJP and its allies (AJSU, JD-U, LJP-RV) reaches 24, which is 4 votes away from the magic figure of victory. But considering Parimal Nathwani’s old track record and his personal connections in all parties, there are speculations that he may be successful in garnering votes from independents and some other MLAs. Industrialist Nathwani has been an independent Rajya Sabha MP from Jharkhand twice before, making his move a big challenge for the ruling coalition.