BJP-Backed Candidate Faces Uphill Battle in Jharkhand Rajya Sabha Elections

The road to victory for BJP-backed independent candidate Parimal Nathwani in the Rajya Sabha elections is not going to be easy. Nathwani has a big challenge to keep 21 BJP MLAs and one each from JDU, LJP-R and AJSU united. Meanwhile, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Monday claimed that all 81 Jharkhand MLAs will vote on the voice of their conscience in the Rajya Sabha elections to be held on June 18. The NDA also expressed confidence in the victory of the BJP-backed independent candidate. However, the opposition alliance does not have the required numbers in the state assembly. On the other hand, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the Congress also do not want to leave any stone unturned to win 2 Rajya Sabha seats in Jharkhand, but Nathwani's talks and meetings with MLAs of all parties have definitely raised the Congress's concern. Congress'Jharkhand affairs in-charge K. Raju said that a meeting of the ruling'INDIA MLAs'alliance will be held on June 16 and 17 to decide the election strategy.