Congress Protests Against BJP-Backed Independent Candidate's Rajya Sabha Nomination in Jharkhand
The returning officer in Jharkhand declared BJP-backed Independent candidate Parimal Nathwani's Rajya Sabha nomination valid on June 10, 2026, despite a Congress protest demanding its cancellation. Congress alleged that Nathwani's nomination papers contained false and incomplete information, while a close aide claimed all objections had been resolved. The decision sets up a contested race for two Rajya Sabha seats, with polling scheduled for June 18.
Jharkhand's returning officer Ranjeet Kumar declared the Rajya Sabha nomination of BJP-backed Independent candidate Parimal Nathwani valid on June 10, 2026, citing Section 36 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Congress workers staged a protest at the Jharkhand Assembly premises in Ranchi, accusing Nathwani — a current Rajya Sabha MP from Andhra Pradesh and industrialist — of submitting false and incomplete information in his nomination affidavit. The returning officer had initially placed Nathwani's nomination on hold and given him until 11 a.m. Wednesday to resolve objections, which his camp said were duly addressed. Three candidates have now filed nominations for two available Rajya Sabha seats: JMM's Baidyanath Ram, Congress's Pranav Jha, and Nathwani as an Independent. The last date for withdrawal is June 11, with polling on June 18, and a candidate needs at least 28 first-preference votes to win. The INDIA bloc holds 56 seats in the Jharkhand Assembly against the NDA's 24, making the arithmetic challenging for Nathwani, who would need to draw support beyond NDA ranks to secure a seat.
What's missing
The specific nature of the alleged discrepancies in Nathwani's nomination papers has not been detailed in either source.
How coverage differed
The Hindu focused on the Congress protest and the allegations of discrepancies, framing the story around the political opposition's demands, while NDTV led with the returning officer's decision to accept the nomination, emphasizing the resolution of the dispute over the protest itself.
What different sources said
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