Ranchi, June 17 (IANS) The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has stepped up preparations to ensure unity among its MLAs and familiarise them with the voting process ahead of the Rajya Sabha election in Jharkhand on Thursday.

MLAs of the alliance, who have been staying at a hotel in Ranchi, were briefed on the voting procedure on Wednesday and trained through a mock poll to minimise the possibility of any technical errors during voting.

BJP state President Aditya Sahu, Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi, and NDA-backed Independent candidate and industrialist Parimal Nathwani, among others, were present during the exercise.

Sources said several MLAs will be voting in a Rajya Sabha election for the first time, and were therefore given detailed training on the process.

On the occasion, BJP state chief Sahu asserted that all NDA MLAs are united and will extend full support to Parimal Nathwani.

He expressed confidence that Nathwani’s victory is “100 per cent certain”.

He also remarked that some legislators would vote according to their conscience.

Targeting the Congress, Sahu said the party, which has accused the BJP of engaging in “hotel politics”, should clarify which MLAs are staying at a Ranchi hotel and what activities are taking place there.

He noted that Congress had earlier claimed its MLAs would go directly from their homes to vote, but they too are now staying at a hotel.

Sahu also raised questions over the Congress’s appointment of polling agents for the election. He said the party has named its Jharkhand in-charge K. Raju and co-in-charge Siri Bela Prasad as polling agents. This raises questions over whether it lacks confidence in its local leadership.

Notably, three candidates are in the fray for two Rajya Sabha seats in Jharkhand. INDIA bloc nominees include JMM’s Baijnath Ram and Congress’s Pranav Jha, while NDA-backed Independent Parimal Nathwani is the third candidate, making the contest politically significant.

Based on the current strength of the Jharkhand Assembly, around 28 first-preference votes are required to secure a Rajya Sabha seat, implying 56 votes are needed to win both seats. Out of a total of 81 seats, the NDA has 25 MLAs, including 21 of the BJP. Hence, Nathwani needs three more votes from the other side to spring a surprise.

–IANS

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