By-poll results in Jharkhand leaves opposition bouyed, NDA sulking

Ranchi: The results of the by-polls to the Silli and Gomia seat of the Jharkhand Assembly gave a reason to smile for the opposition parties which had rallied around the JMM and supported its candidates who ultimately won the seats but it left a sour taste in the mouth of NDA allies the BJP and the AJSU which despite all efforts could not snatch the seats from the JMM.

Despite being part of the NDA, AJSU party which is a junior ally in the BJP government of Jharkhand fielded candidates in Gomia and Silli while BJP decided to extend support to AJSU supremo Sudesh Mahto in Silli but itself fielded Madhav Lal Singh from Gomia. Mr Singh who has managed to win the seat on previous occasion as Congress candidate and also as an independent was at the third position after the results were announced.

Throughout the campaigning the BJP and its leaders led by Chief Minister Raghubar Das who also campaigned extensively in Gomia were confident of his party winning Gomia while AJSU was to win Silli hands-down. But the results left much to be pondered over by both the partners.

?

Seema polled a total of 77?,? 129 votes while Sudesh Mahto got 63?,? 619 votes. While in Gomia JMM's Babita Devi defeated her nearest rival Dr Lambodar Mahto of the AJSU party by a slim margin of 1344 votes. Babita got a total of 60?,? 551 votes while Lambodar Mahto polled a total of 59?,? 207 while BJP's Madhav Lal Singh stood at the third position having got 42?,?

037 votes.

Commenting on the results Jharkhand Mukti Morcha's (JMM) working president and former Chief Minister Hemant Soren said that the results of the by-polls in Jharkhand showed that democracy has won and conspiracy has lost in the state.

"Democracy has won and conspiracy has lost, perseverance has won and arrogance has lost...Jharkhand and Jharkhandis have won today," he said and thanked the leaders of all the coalition partners and party workers including those that of the Congress, JVM(P), RJD and the Left for extending their support and working to ensure victory of JMM candidates in these by-polls.

He said that that now the opposition was ready for a big agitation against the BJP and the "fire of the by-polls will soon reach to Delhi," he said, adding that the BJP government of Chief Minister Raghubar Das has topped in corruption and non performance so it has been rejected by the people.

Mr Soren said that on previous occasion also it has been the opposition which has managed to win the previous four by-polls in the state and he demanded that on moral ground Raghubar Das should resign from his post.

Commenting on the results former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Subodhkant Sahai said that the people have rejected the BJP and AJSU and opposition unity has won in the state. He said that the mandate given by the people shows that fake and false claims can not mislead the people.

Mr Sahai said that the ruling coalition used all possible tricks to influence the polls but that was rejected by the people. He said that people have understood the true character and identity of the BJP and added that in next Lok Sabha and assembly elections of the state the arrogance of Raghubar Das will have to pay dearly. (UNI)