Nathwani’s nomination cleared after marathon hearing

Congress, BJP stage protest at State Assembly

Surendra Soren

Ranchi

The political suspense surrounding the scrutiny of nomination papers for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in Jharkhand ended on Wednesday with the Returning Officer clearing the candidature of BJP-backed independent candidate Parimal Nathwani after a marathon hearing that followed a day of intense political drama and legal arguments.

Nathwani’s nomination, which had been kept on hold during scrutiny on Tuesday, was declared valid after the Returning Officer rejected all objections raised by the Congress and the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). The decision brought relief to BJP leaders and supporters, while the ruling alliance expressed disappointment over the outcome.

The controversy began during the scrutiny process when several objections were raised regarding Nathwani’s nomination papers. Among the issues highlighted were variations in the order of his name—“Parimal Nathwani” and “Nathwani Parimal”—details related to his Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) status, disclosures concerning company directorships and information relating to criminal cases mentioned in his affidavit.

Taking note of the objections, Returning Officer Ranjit Kumar had kept Nathwani’s nomination on hold and granted him time until 11 a.m. on Wednesday to submit clarifications and supporting documents. Following detailed submissions by Nathwani’s representatives and arguments presented by the opposing side, the Returning Officer concluded that the objections did not warrant rejection of the nomination and declared it valid.

The scrutiny process triggered a high-voltage political confrontation in and around the Jharkhand Assembly premises. Congress workers staged a sit-in protest inside the Assembly campus, accusing the authorities of favouring the BJP-backed candidate and demanding immediate rejection of Nathwani’s nomination. Protesters remained stationed near the main entrance of the Assembly for several hours, raising slogans intermittently.

In a bid to strengthen its legal challenge, the Congress and JMM enlisted the services of senior Congress leader and noted lawyer Salman Khurshid, who participated in the proceedings and argued the case against Nathwani’s nomination.

The BJP, on the other hand, strongly defended Nathwani’s candidature. Tensions escalated further when BJP supporters were stopped by security personnel near Gate No. 2 of the Assembly. They argued that if Congress workers were being allowed to protest within the Assembly premises, BJP supporters should be granted similar access. The standoff between supporters of both camps turned the Assembly complex into a political flashpoint throughout the day.

With Nathwani’s candidature now officially confirmed, the Rajya Sabha election in Jharkhand has become significantly more competitive. Nathwani will take on JMM candidate Baidyanath Ram and Congress nominee Pranav Jha in the election scheduled for June 18.

While the ruling alliance is considered well-positioned to secure one of the two seats, the contest for the second seat is expected to be closely watched. Political observers believe the possibility of cross-voting and shifting legislative equations could make the outcome more intriguing, setting the stage for a keenly contested Rajya Sabha battle in the state.