Bypolls 2022: The counting of votes for bypolls in seven constituencies is underway. In Bihar’s Mokama, Rashtriya Janata Dal's candidate Neelam Devi won with a margin of more than 16,000 votes, defeating Bharatiya Janata Party's Sonam Devi. Neelam Devi received 73,893 votes, whereas Sonam Devi received 57,141 votes.
In Gopalganj, BJP's candidate Kusum Devi won by a slender margin of 1794 votes, defeating RJD's Mohan Prasad Gupta. Kusum Devi received 70,053 votes and Mohan Prasad Gupta received 68,259 votes. "The entire Gopalganj district is with me. Victory for everyone is my victory. I will carry forward the development work that did not get completed. I was blessed by everyone," says BJP's Kusum Devi after winning the Gopalganj byelection.
In Bihar, the fierce battle was between Bharatiya Janata Party and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and Bahujan Samaj Party. Bihar saw the first electoral test for the Nitish Kumar-led 'Mahagathbandhan' government, formed less than three months ago after the JD(U) parted ways with the BJP.
The Mokama and Gopalganj seats in Bihar were earlier held by the RJD and the BJP respectively. The bypolls for the seats were held on November 3
The BJP was contesting from the Mokama constituency for the first time as the saffron party had, on previous occasions, left the seat to its allies. Both the BJP and the RJD had fielded the wives of local musclemen in the bypolls. BJP nominee Sonam Devi was up against RJD's Neelam Devi, whose husband Anant Singh's disqualification has necessitated the byelection.
Mokama has been a stronghold of Anant Singh since 2005. He won the seat twice on JD(U) tickets and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has appealed to voters to support him.
In Gopalganj, BJP fielded Kusum Devi, the wife of deceased party MLA Subhash Singh. The RJD fielded Mohan Gupta, while Indira Yadav, wife of Lalu Yadav’s brother-in-law Sadhu Yadav, is contesting as Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate.
(With Agency Inputs)