Ranchi (Jharkhand) [India], June 18 : With the voting for Rajya Sabha elections in Jharkhand underway on Thursday, Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) MLA and former Chief Minister Champai Soren expressed confidence that National Democratic Alliance (NDA)-supported independent candidate Parimal Nathwani would win with a majority.
Speaking to reporters, Soren said, "We (NDA-supported Parimal Nathwani) will certainly win."
The BJP-NDA MLAs reached Ranchi for the State Assembly as the election for two Rajya Sabha seats in the state is underway. NDA is supporting independent candidate Parimal Nathwani, while JMM and Congress have fielded Baidyanath Ram and Pranab Jha, respectively.
Speaking to reporters, Bharatiya Janta Party MLA Kumar Ujjwal Das said, "We are 100% confident that we are sending Parimal Nathwani as a Rajya Sabha MP."
BJP MLA CP Singh also expressed confidence of winning, saying, "You cannot even imagine how confident we are...Be assured. There is no problem. We will cross 30..."
Speaking to ANI on voting for the Rajya Sabha election in the state, BJP State Vice President Bhanu Pratap Shahi slammed the Congress party, adding that the Congress leaders had a sleepless night as "K Raju is intoxicated, and Irfan Ansari is unconscious."
"For the development of Jharkhand, MLAs of the state have decided to listen to their conscience and make Parimal Nathwani win. He is going to get up to 36 votes. The people of Congress had a sleepless night. K Raju madhosh hain, Irfan Ansari behosh hain..." he added.
Nathwani on Thursday also expressed confidence of winning, asserting that he has full faith in all MLAs. He told reporters, "I am very confident...I have faith in all MLAs; if given a chance to do so, I will definitely serve Jharkhand."
When asked if he has Congress MLAs' support, he added, "I have everyone's support."
Polling in the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly began at 9 am and will continue till 4 pm, while the counting of votes will commence at 5 pm. The results will be declared thereafter.
Nathwani's candidature has made the Rajya Sabha contest in the state interesting as there are now three candidates for two seats in the state.
The ruling JMM and Congress, which is an ally in the ruling coalition in the state, have fielded a candidate each, reaching a seat-sharing pact. JMM candidate Baidyanath Ram and Congress candidate Pranav Jha have filed their nominations for the Rajya Sabha polls.