Neelam Devi, a candidate for the Rashtriya Janata Dal, has won the Mokama assembly by-election in Bihar with a margin of 16,741 votes.
The first election after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar broke with the BJP and joined forces with the RJD and Congress to establish a Grand Alliance administration in Mokama, which has long been a bastion of Neelam Devi’s husband Anant Singh, saw a significant struggle between the BJP and RJD. The by-elections in this area were required by Anant Singh’s disqualification in the Arms Act case, and the BJP fielded Sonam Devi as its candidate. Sonam Devi received a total of 62,939 votes.
Notably, Neelam Devi received 79,646 votes to win the seat.
Neelam Devi had earlier in the day said that she would win and that the election was only a “formality.”
“My victory was certain. I had already said there was nobody else in my contest. It was just a formality. Mokama is the land of Parshuram, people won’t get lured in. Vidhayak ji (Anant Singh) had served the people. They are giving the result now,” RJD’s Neelam Devi said.
While this was going on, the RJD’s Mohan Prasad Gupta, who had been in a neck-and-neck race here, lost to the BJP’s Kusum Devi in the Gopalganj constituency of the state by a margin of 1,794 votes.
Kusum Devi stated that she would continue the incomplete development work at this location.
“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,” BJP’s Kusum Devi said after winning the Gopalganj byelection.
Notably, Nitish Kumar took his eighth oath here by allying with the JDU, Congress, and other political parties in the state. This was the first battle between the BJP and the Mahagathbandhan since it was established in Bihar.
BJP won in Gopalganj, Bihar, and Gola Gokarannath, Uttar Pradesh, according to National General Secretary (Org) BL Santosh.
“Huge wins for @BJP4India candidates Sri Aman Giri in Gol Gorakhnath , UP & Smt Kusum Devi in Gopalganj , Bihar . Congratulations Team @BJP4UP & Team @BJP4Bihar. Victory is specially sweet in Bihar where BJP was up against united ruling coalition,” his tweet read.
In the Gola Gokarannath seat in Uttar Pradesh, BJP candidate Aman Giri defeated Samajwadi Party opponent Vinay Tiwari to claim victory.
After BJP MLA Arvind Giri passed away in September, the Gola Gokarannath seat in Uttar Pradesh became vacant. The BJP was running to reclaim the seat.
With the BSP and the Congress abstaining from the by-elections, the contest was between the SP candidate and former Gola Gokarannath MLA Vinay Tiwari and Aman Giri of the BJP.
The Uttar Pradesh BJP wished Aman Giri a prosperous future and extended their wishes.
“Many congratulations and best wishes to Shri Aman Giri on his victory in Gola Gokarnath by-election. We wish you a successful tenure,” the UP BJP said in a Hindi tweet.