JMM dismisses poaching concerns as Jharkhand RS voting begins

Dismissing fears of cross-voting, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha General Secretary Mithilesh Kumar Thakur declared the INDIA bloc’s numbers secure as polling opened for the state’s two Rajya Sabha seats. Thakur explicitly rejected the possibility of legislative defections, framing the contest as a battle against the opposition's reliance on financial influence.

Editorial·June 18, 2026·reads: 1,388

JMM dismisses poaching concerns as Jharkhand RS voting begins

Thakur targeted the BJP’s strategy directly, accusing the party of utilizing wealthy proxies to sway election outcomes. He specifically criticized Independent candidate Parimal Nathwani, who is backed by the BJP, alleging that his past electoral successes in Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh relied heavily on personal capital rather than political mandate.

Voting at the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly began at 9 a.m. and is scheduled to close at 4 p.m., with the counting process set to follow an hour later. The race features JMM’s Baidyanath Ram, Congress nominee Pranav Jha, and Nathwani. While the INDIA bloc maintains a confident outlook, the biennial polls are unfolding across several states today, including Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh, marking a significant test of legislative stability for the governing alliance.