CPI(M-L) Rejects Rajya Sabha Cross Voting Rumors in Jharkhand
The CPI(ML) Liberation publicly dismissed allegations on Thursday that its lawmakers engaged in cross-voting during the Jharkhand Rajya Sabha polls. The party maintained that its legislators cast their ballots precisely for the Congress candidate as previously arranged by the alliance.
Key Highlights
- CPI(ML) Liberation confirmed its 2 MLAs voted entirely for the Congress nominee.
- The party blamed Congress for failing to manage internal discipline among its own lawmakers.
- Independent candidate Parimal Nathwani and JMM’s Baidhyanath Ram secured the 2 contested seats.
- Congress nominee Pranav Jha faced defeat after securing only 20 votes in the assembly.
The left-wing party countered the speculation by stating that the election results proved Congress failed to command the loyalty of its own assembly members. It warned that pointing fingers at alliance partners risks fracturing the unity of the opposition INDIA coalition.
Also Read: Blow to INDIA bloc as JMM’s Baidhyanath Ram, independent candidate Nathwani clinches RS seat
Via a social media communication on X, the party urged the public to disregard the ongoing fabrications regarding the voting patterns in Jharkhand. The statement asserted that both party legislators backed the Congress choice. It noted that authorized election agent Haladhar Mahto and senior leader Geeta Mandal explicitly verified the ballots.
The organization added that the final numbers show Congress lacked full backing from its internal ranks. The statement advised larger political entities to conduct internal reviews before leveling accusations against external partners.
According to the CPI(ML), these baseless allegations harm the reputation of both the party and the lawmakers who acted in good faith. The party characterized the narrative as an attack that weakens the collective credibility of the entire opposition front.
The political defense followed a significant electoral defeat for Congress, where NDA-supported Independent candidate Parimal Nathwani overcame Congress representative Pranav Jha. Meanwhile, JMM candidate Baidhyanath Ram safely claimed the alternate open seat.
The ruling coalition originally held the necessary legislative density to capture both positions in the 81-member house. However, Congress gathered only 20 votes, whereas Nathwani achieved 28 votes and Ram finished with 30 votes. Officials declared 3 ballots invalid.
Congress representatives quickly alleged financial manipulation by the BJP, claiming expected alliance votes vanished during the secret ballot. Regional minister Deepika Pandey described the unexpected political outcome simply as a betrayal.
State organizational head K Raju directly implicated alliance members, including the RJD and CPI(ML) Liberation, for the polling failure.
Concurrently, BJP lawmaker Neera Yadav celebrated the victory publicly, signaling that the strategic objective had been achieved.
National BJP representative Shehzad Poonawalla later stated that the opposition coalition remains severely disabled by internal conflict.
Poonawalla remarked that the loss directly reflects on Rahul Gandhi and the broader alliance structure. He described the leadership as an electoral liability for regional partners.
He concluded that the opposition bloc regularly transforms viable victories into defeats due to structural infighting.
Future Outlook
The fallout from the Rajya Sabha election is expected to strain seat-sharing negotiations for the upcoming state assembly elections in Jharkhand. As mutual distrust grows between Congress and its left-wing allies, the BJP plans to capitalize on the fractured state government. The internal blame game could either force the INDIA bloc to establish strict voting mechanisms or lead to a multi-cornered contest in future local polls.
FAQs
What was the outcome of the Jharkhand Rajya Sabha election?
JMM candidate Baidhyanath Ram and NDA-backed Independent candidate Parimal Nathwani won the 2 contested seats. Nathwani secured 28 votes, Ram received 30 votes, and Congress nominee Pranav Jha lost after pulling only 20 votes.
How did the CPI(ML) Liberation respond to cross-voting rumors?
The party strongly denied all cross-voting rumors, confirming that both of its MLAs voted for the Congress candidate. The party stated that its authorized agents officially verified the votes.
Who did Congress blame for the Rajya Sabha defeat in Jharkhand?
Congress leaders alleged horse-trading by the BJP and openly blamed alliance partners, specifically the RJD and CPI(ML) Liberation, for failing to deliver expected votes.
