Nathwani confident of victory, claims people have seen his work   

Roshan Kumar
Ranchi

BJP-backed independent candidate Parimal Nathwani has expressed confidence of victory in the June 18 Rajya Sabha elections in Jharkhand, asserting that his long association with the state and development work during his previous tenure as a Member of Parliament would earn him support across political lines.

“I am an old Jharkhandi and people here have seen my work. I am confident of winning the election and getting another opportunity to serve the state,” Nathwani said after entering the fray for one of the two Rajya Sabha seats going to polls.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has claimed that all 81 MLAs in the Jharkhand Assembly will vote according to their conscience and has expressed confidence that Nathwani will emerge victorious despite the INDIA bloc having a numerical advantage in the House.

Nathwani represented Jharkhand in the Rajya Sabha for two consecutive terms from 2008 to 2020 before moving to Andhra Pradesh as a Rajya Sabha member. During his tenure, he was known for maintaining an active office in Ranchi and extensively utilizing MPLAD funds for tribal welfare, rural infrastructure, drinking water facilities, education and sports promotion.

Under the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY), Nathwani adopted several panchayats, including Jaratoli-Baram, Chuttu and Barwadag, where efforts were focused on improving access to clean drinking water, sanitation, drainage systems and livelihood opportunities. He said that if elected again, his priority would be the development of tribal and underdeveloped regions.

“In the first phase, I will adopt two districts and focus on selected villages. Upgrading schools with modern teaching facilities and equipping health centres with advanced medical equipment will also be among my priorities,” he said.

Nathwani is also remembered for adopting Islam Nagar, a Ranchi slum that witnessed a major demolition drive in 2011. He worked to improve civic amenities in the area and supported displaced residents by raising their concerns before the Human Rights Commission.

A senior BJP leader said Nathwani’s development work remains visible across the state and has helped strengthen his appeal. Political observers believe his candidature has added an element of uncertainty to the election and made the contest for the second Rajya Sabha seat more competitive for the INDIA bloc candidates.