BJP retains Nalanda, Bhagalpur; Marandi triumphs in Koderma

Patna/Ranchi/Guwahati, Nov 9 (UNI) The NDA today retained the Nalanda and Bhagalpur parliamentary constituencies in Bihar, while former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi emerged triumphant in Koderma constituency of neighbouring Jharkhand.

In the bypolls to Jamunamukh Assembly seat in Asom, the Asom United Democratic Front (AUDF) retained the seat, defeating the Congress candidate.

Former Union Minister and BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain romped home from Bhagalpur, while JD(U)'s Ramswaroop Prasad won from Nalanda.

Mr Hussain defeated his nearest rival, former minister Shakuni Choudhry (RJD), by over 50,000 votes. He polled 2.21 lakh votes against Mr Choudhry's 1.65 lakh votes.

Mr Prasad defeated JD(U) rebel Arun Kumar, contesting as an independent, by over one lakh votes. Mr Prasad polled a little over 1.67 lakh votes, while Mr Kumar had to remain satisfied with about fifty thousand votes.

The by-elections to both seats were necessitated as Chief Minister Nitish Kumar vacated the Nalanda seat and his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi, Bhagalpur, after taking over power in the state.

Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, Jharkhand Vikash Morcha president Babulal Marandi, contesting as an independent, won the Koderma parliamentary seat by almost two lakh votes, humiliating his former party BJP, which was relegated to the third position.

Mr Marandi bagged 3,25,871 votes while his nearest rival Manoj Yadav (UPA) polled 1,31,731 votes. BJP's Pranab Verma came third, with 1,15,892 votes.

Mr Marandi retained the seat by a bigger margin as in the last Lok Sabha elections he defeated his nearest rival Champa Verma of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha by over 1, 57,000 votes.

The by-poll was necessitated following the resignation of Mr Marandi, then BJP's national vice president, from the Lok Sabha in May this year after he quit the party.

In Jamunamukh, Sirajuddin Ajmal, brother of AUDF supremo Badruddin Ajmal retained the seat for the party, defeating his Congress rival by about 15,000 votes. Ajmal polled 58,303 votes, while Congress' Khalilur Rahman Choudhury secured 44,884.

The byelection assumed great significance as the ruling Congress threw its entire might to wrest the seat, considered to be a citadel of the AUDF.

In fact the Congress ''hijacked'' Asom Gana Parishad candidate Khalilur Rahman Choudhury at the last moment, bringing him into its fold at the last moment, scuppering the AGP's chances and transforming it into a contest between the Congress and the AUDF.

UNI TEAM SJC/VD BS1825