PATNA: The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) achieved a clean sweep in the Bihar Assembly bypolls, winning all four constituencies where elections were necessitated due to MLAs being elected to the Lok Sabha. The results came as a significant blow to the opposition I.N.D.I.Alliance, which had previously held three of these seats.
The bypolls were held on November 13 for the Assembly constituencies of Tarari, Ramgarh, Belaganj, and Imamganj, with a voter turnout of 52.84 per cent. These elections were closely watched as they tested the strength of the NDA and the I.N.D.I.A bloc in a politically charged state.
Constituency-Wise Results
Ramgarh Assembly Seat
Ramgarh saw a three-way contest between the BJP’s Ashok Kumar Singh, RJD’s Ajit Kumar Singh, and BSP’s Satish Kumar Singh Yadav. BJP’s Singh secured a narrow victory with a margin of 1,362 votes over BSP’s Yadav, reclaiming a seat that had fallen out of the party’s grasp since 2015.
This result came as a setback for the RJD, as Ajit Kumar Singh, son of state RJD chief Jagadanand Singh, failed to retain the seat vacated by his brother Sudhakar Singh after his Lok Sabha election from Buxar. Ramgarh recorded a voter turnout of 54.02%.
Belaganj Assembly Seat
The JD(U), a key NDA ally, secured a decisive victory in Belaganj, with Manorama Devi defeating RJD candidate Vishwanath Kumar Singh by a margin of 21,391 votes. Devi’s win further solidified the NDA’s dominance, as the seat had the highest number of candidates in the bypolls, with 14 contenders.
The bypoll was necessitated by the election of Surendra Prasad Yadav, Vishwanath’s father, to the Lok Sabha from Jehanabad. Belaganj recorded the highest voter turnout among the four constituencies, at 56.21%.
Tarari Assembly Seat
In Tarari, the BJP’s Vishal Prashant emerged victorious against CPI(ML)’s Raju Yadav, securing a win by a margin of 10,612 votes. Prashant garnered 78,755 votes, while Yadav received 68,143. Prashant, son of former MLA Sunil Pandey, brought the seat into the NDA fold after two consecutive wins by CPI(ML) leader Sudama Prasad, now an MP from Arrah.
Prashant’s victory signifies a reversal of fortunes for the BJP in a constituency known for its Left-leaning politics. The seat recorded a voter turnout of 50.10%. Jan Suraaj, led by Prashant Kishor, fielded social activist Kiran Singh, but her campaign failed to make a significant impact.
Imamganj Assembly Seat
In Imamganj, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), an NDA ally, retained the seat as Deepa Kumari defeated RJD’s Raushan Manjhi by 5,945 votes. The constituency, reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates, was previously held by HAM chief Jitan Ram Manjhi, whose election to the Lok Sabha had necessitated the bypoll.
Deepa Kumari, daughter-in-law of Jitan Ram Manjhi, faced a tough battle but managed to secure victory for HAM. Other notable candidates included AIMIM’s Kanchan Paswan and Jan Suraaj’s Jitendra Paswan.
Lalu ka thopda saaf kar diya hain”: Union Minister Giriraj Singh
Union Minister Giriraj Singh spoke on the performance of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the upcoming results for the Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan and said on Saturday that the public in UP had given a wipe off to Lalu Prasad.
Speaking to ANI, he said “We accept the results in Jharkhand. However, in Bihar and UP, the public has given a wipe-off to Lalu Prasad. Lalu ka thopda saaf kar diya hain… The opposition will say that EVMs are wrong when they are losing. We will wait for the final results to come… Congress Telangana mein jeet gayi toh balle balle, agar Maharashtra mein haar gayi toh EVM par sawaal..”
The NDA’s clean sweep is a morale booster for the alliance ahead of the 2025 Assembly elections. With three of the four seats previously held by the opposition I.N.D.I.Alliance– two by the RJD and one by CPI(ML) – the results underscore the shifting political dynamics in Bihar.
For the RJD, the loss of seats such as Ramgarh and Belaganj, despite strong family connections, highlights the challenges the party faces in consolidating its base. The CPI(ML)’s loss in Tarari, a traditional Left stronghold, adds to the opposition’s woes.
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