PATNA: Another set-back to BJP, as the Tejashwi Yadav-led Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) candidate Shahnawaz Alam has emerges victorious by defeating its nearest rival Murshid Alam of the Janata Dal (United) in Jokihat assembly in Bihar.
Son of former RJD heavyweight Mohammad Taslimuddin and brother of Sarfaraj Alam, Shahnawaz Alam won by over 40,000 votes, said, “This is a defeat of Nitish Kumar’s arrogance.”
RESULTS 2018
| PARTY | VOTES POLLED | CANDIDATE NAME | STATUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| JDU | 37913 | Md Murshid Alam | Lost |
RJD |
76002 |
Shahnawaz Alam |
Won |
| JAP(L) | — | Ghousul Azam | Lost |
| IND | — | Javed Alam | Lost |
| IND | — | Prasenjeet Krishna | Lost |
| IND | — | Md Masroor Alam | Lost |
| IND | — | Md Mobinul Haque | Lost |
| IND | — | Mohammad Irfan | Lost |
| IND | — | Md Shabbir Ahmad | Lost |
Counting of votes for the byelection to the Jokihat Assembly seat in Bihar was underway on Thursday with the ruling JD-U candidate Murshid Alam taking an early lead, according to Election Commission officials.
Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) candidate Shahnawaz Alam is trailing behind Murshid Alam.
The Jokikhat seat fell vacant following the resignation of JD-U MLA Sarfaraz Alam, who joined the RJD.
A third Independent candidate Mohammad Shabbir is also in the fray.
The number of votes JDU got, is less than our victory margin. People of Bihar are continuing to avenge the uturn taken by Nitish Kumar: Tejashwi Yadav on RJD won Jokihat assembly bypoll #Bihar pic.twitter.com/ljVXanHJ06
— ANI (@ANI) May 31, 2018
Voting for the seat took place on Monday.
The JD-U was backed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while the RJD had the support of the Congress and Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) of former Chief Minister of Jitan Ram Manjhi.
Jokihat is a Muslim-dominated Assembly constituency, considered stronghold of former Union Minister and Shahnawaz Alam’s father Mohammad Taslimuddin, who died last year leading to bypolls in Araria Lok Sabha seat.
–IANS inputs