NDA wins one RS seat, Nathwani gets other roping into UPA den

Ranchi, Mar 26 (UNI) The Opposition NDA stood united as their Rajya Sabha nominee Jaiprakash Singh Narayan sailed through with 35 votes, while ruling UPA's allies fell asunder as Independent candidate Parimal Nathwani emerged the other winner after results of two Rajya Sabha seats were declared in Jharkhand today.

Mr Nathwani, group president of Reliance Industries Limited (Corporate Affairs), whose poll plank was ''turning Jharkhand into Gujarat'', tore apart the UPA fold bagging 21 votes, including five received on second preference.

Supreme Court lawyer R K Anand, also an Indepedent, who was last night backed by the Congress, scored 17 votes, while Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-backed Kishori Lal finsihed with only eight votes.

Chief Minister Madhu Koda, Mr Ram Chandra Ram (CPI) and Vinod Kumar Singh (CPI-ML) did not cast ballot. Two votes were rejected.

The ruling UPA members were confused over their choice of candidate as they cast ballot in favour of three different candidates - Mr Anand, Mr Nathwani and Mr Kishori Lal, former MP.

The NDA fold comprised BJP with 29 MLAs, including five rebels and JD-U with five, including Inder Singh Namdhari and Sudesh Mahto (both Independents). However, one of their MLAs indulged in cross-voting.

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha with 19 MLAs fielded Mr Lal but last night the Congress with nine MLAs decided to rally behind the Supreme Court lawyer, who was also supported by the RJD having seven Legislators.

From the voting pattern it became evident that the UPA was badly bruised by cross-voting.

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