With just two days left for the Rajya Sabha elections in Jharkhand, the ruling INDIA bloc has stepped up efforts to project unity and numerical strength, amid intense political maneuvering over the second Upper House seat.

JMM’s Cryptic ‘Not 56, but 61’ Slogan Sparks Cross-Voting Speculation

Before the INDIA bloc MLAs gathered at Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s official residence for a meeting on Tuesday evening, the ruling coalition’s largest constituent, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), posted a cryptic message on social media declaring, ‘Not 56, but 61’.

The slogan is being interpreted as an assertion that the alliance enjoys support beyond its officially acknowledged strength of 56 MLAs in the 81-member Assembly and could attract votes from outside its ranks. The contest for one of the two Rajya Sabha seats has turned into a prestige battle for the INDIA bloc, which has fielded JMM’s Baidyanath Ram and Congress nominee Pranav Jha. While Ram’s victory is widely considered assured, the coalition is leaving little to chance in its bid to ensure Jha’s election as well.

Hemant Soren, JMM president, chaired the meeting of alliance legislators. Mock polling exercises were conducted to familiarise MLAs with the preferential voting process and prevent technical errors. The Congress has simultaneously reached out to ally Tejashwi Yadav, amid speculation over voting patterns. Sources said Pranav Jha recently met the RJD leader in Patna, a move seen as reinforcing coordination within the bloc.

Resort Politics Peak in Ranchi as Alliances Guard Their Flocks

JMM leaders have sought to contrast the bloc’s confidence with that of the BJP-led NDA alliance, which has assembled most of its MLAs at Radisson Blu Hotel. Rajya Sabha MP and JMM leader Mahua Maji questioned the practice, saying BJP does not trust its own MLAs. She said Chief Minister Soren had rejected similar suggestions because he trusted bloc MLAs.

However, it is learnt that several rooms at BNR Chanakya Hotel in Ranchi have reportedly been booked for INDIA bloc MLAs as well as senior Congress leaders, including state in-charge K Raju, Rajya Sabha MP Syed Naseer Hussain, and observer Ajay Sharma. The INDIA bloc claims the support of its 56 legislators is enough to win both the Rajya Sabha seats, as 28 votes are required to win a seat. JMM leaders maintain that if alliance MLAs vote together, both bloc candidates will be elected.