The highly contested contest for two Rajya Sabha seats in Jharkhand witnessed a major political upset. Independent candidate Parimal Nathwani, as expected, secured victory by achieving the magic number. Despite the ruling Grand Alliance (JMM and Congress) having the numerical strength, the strategic fortifications of Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister Hemant Soren failed to stop Parimal Nathwani. This victory, achieved with the strong and strategic support of the Bharatiya Janata Party, dampened the spirits of the ruling parties. After Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, this Jharkhand election result proves that the NDA’s electoral Chakravyuha is proving to be too strong for its opponents.
Parimal Nathwani is a prominent industrialist with close ties to major industrial houses. He is not a newcomer to politics. He previously represented Jharkhand in the Rajya Sabha twice, from 2008 to 2020. He is known for his deep personal connections and unparalleled election management skills, both within the business community and in political circles.
In 2008, Parimal Nathwani first became a Rajya Sabha MP from Jharkhand.
In 2014, he entered the Rajya Sabha as an independent candidate from Jharkhand.
In 2020, he became a Rajya Sabha MP from the YSR Congress in Andhra Pradesh.
In 2026, he was re-elected to the Rajya Sabha with the support of the NDA.
Parimal Nathwani is considered one of Gujarat’s leading industrialists.
Nathwani’s current Rajya Sabha term ends June 21, 2026.
He began his Rajya Sabha term by winning the Rajya Sabha election as an independent from Jharkhand.
He is also the Vice President of the renowned Dwarkadish Devasthan Samiti.
This election was considered a prestige battle for the top leaders of the “INDIA” alliance. The Congress high command and Chief Minister Hemant Soren had closely monitored the MLAs to ensure the victory of their candidates. On paper, the alliance had secured a majority, but at the time of voting, Parimal Nathwani’s ground-level influence shattered all these strategies.
Just as the BJP and NDA had proven their strategic acumen in the recent political events in Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, the same story was repeated in Jharkhand. Internal strife within the opposition and the NDA’s unity secured this seat for the BJP-backed camp, raising the saffron camp’s enthusiasm in the state.
Since the 100% turnout of all 81 MLAs in the election, there have been strong rumors of cross-voting. Political circles claim that several MLAs from the ruling alliance deviated from party lines and voted for Nathwani, ultimately determining the difference between victory and defeat. Without a major party symbol, Parimal Nathwani eroded the vote bank of both alliances. All allies, including the BJP and AJSU, had rallied behind Parimal Nathwani from day one. This defeat shattered the hopes of the Congress candidate, due to which there is an atmosphere of disappointment in the ruling party.