- Historic fourth Rajya Sabha term crowns the longest-serving Independent member with a record of blending parliamentary leadership and people-centric development
- From model villages and hospitals to tribal heritage restoration and skill centres, Nathwani’s footprint extends far beyond legislative debates
- Leader vows to accelerate rural infrastructure, healthcare, education and cottage industries as he returns to his self-described ‘Karmabhoomi’
- Over 1,200 parliamentary interventions and landmark development projects position him as one of Jharkhand’s most proactive voices in the Upper House
NE NEWS BUREAU
RANCHI, JHARKHAND, JUNE 18
For Parimal Nathwani, the return to the Rajya Sabha from Jharkhand marks more than another electoral milestone—it represents the continuation of a development journey that has transformed villages, strengthened institutions and earned him recognition as one of the Upper House’s most proactive parliamentarians.
Elected for a historic fourth term, Nathwani returns to the state he has consistently described as his “Karmabhoomi” (land of work), carrying with him a legacy built not merely on speeches but on tangible projects spanning healthcare, education, rural infrastructure, tribal welfare and skill development.
His victory is particularly significant as three candidates contested two Rajya Sabha seats, with Nathwani once again securing the confidence of the legislators. Having represented Jharkhand as an Independent member between 2008 and 2020 before serving Andhra Pradesh from 2020, he continues to hold the distinction of being the longest-serving Independent Member in the history of the Rajya Sabha.
Expressing gratitude after his election, Nathwani thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP National President Nitin Nabin, Jharkhand BJP President Aditya Sahu, BJP Legislature Party leader Babulal Marandi, Chief Whip Navin Jaiswal and BJP and NDA legislators for their support.
‘Jharkhand is my Karmabhoomi’
Sharing his roadmap for the coming term, Nathwani reaffirmed his emotional bond with the state and outlined a development agenda centred on rural empowerment.
“Having spent more than a decade here, Jharkhand is not new to me. It is my Karmabhoomi. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve its people once again in the Rajya Sabha. Moving forward, my primary focus will be heavily directed toward rural areas, where we aim to focus on robust skill development programmes and revitalising the cottage industry to create sustainable livelihood opportunities right at the grassroots level. Developing rural infrastructure, healthcare facilities and education in rural areas will be my focus areas.”
A parliamentarian who built villages, schools and hospitals
Nathwani’s parliamentary career has been distinguished by an unusual model of public service—combining his Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) funds with substantial personal financial contributions to create long-lasting public assets.
He utilised nearly 100 per cent of his MPLAD allocation under the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) to improve rural infrastructure, sanitation, education and healthcare.
The model village panchayats of Baram-Jaratoli, Chuttu and Barwadag, developed under his stewardship, have emerged as benchmark examples of integrated rural development.
Among his most significant contributions is the creation of a state-of-the-art 600-seat seminar hall at IIM Ranchi, funded through a combination of MPLAD allocation and personal contribution amounting to ₹15 crore, strengthening one of Jharkhand’s premier educational institutions.
Development that touched every sector
His developmental footprint extends across multiple sectors.
Nathwani rebuilt the dilapidated Ranchi Municipal Corporation Hospital on Ratu Road through a personal contribution of ₹1.07 crore, established health sub-centres and facilitated the donation of ambulances across the state.
He also constructed a three-storey Model School at Baram, developed a library for the tribal hostel at Karamtoli and established free computer skill centres to equip rural youth with employable digital skills.
Under the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, he implemented deep-bore drinking water projects, laid concrete roads, established solar power infrastructure and distributed solar lamps to improve rural living standards.
Recognising the importance of preserving indigenous traditions, Nathwani spearheaded the restoration and beautification of Sarna Sthals, Masnas and Madai Sthals, while simultaneously creating stadiums, sports galleries and community parks to encourage youth participation in sports and community life.
A powerful voice inside Parliament
Beyond development projects, Nathwani has established himself as one of Jharkhand’s most active representatives in Parliament.
During his tenure, he raised more than 1,200 questions in the Rajya Sabha, consistently highlighting issues ranging from rural development, drought management and malnutrition to infrastructure bottlenecks, judicial vacancies and the modernisation of universities and educational institutions.
His proactive parliamentary interventions, coupled with sustained grassroots engagement, have earned him a reputation as a legislator who translates policy into visible development outcomes.
With his return to the Rajya Sabha, Jharkhand regains a parliamentarian whose approach combines legislative activism, administrative follow-up and developmental execution—an uncommon blend that has shaped his enduring public image over the past decade and a half.
