JMM's Suman Mahto wins Jamshedpur Lok Sabha by-election

Jamshedpur, Sep 2 (UNI) UPA-backed Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) candidate Suman Mahto won the Jamshedpur Lok Sabha bypoll defeating her nearest rival NDA-supported BJP's Dinesh Sarangi by 58,814 votes.

Eection Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner N M Kulkarni announced that Mahto got 293003 votes while Sarangi managed to bag 234189 votes after the final rounds of counting amidst tight security arrangements here today.

Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Democratic) candidate Bikash Mukherjee got 37443 votes to place third spot while Bahujan Samaj Party candidate Salkhan Murmu relegated to fourth position with 29979 votes.

The other notbale candidates who crossed four-figure mark were Independent Lakhan Chandra Mardi (10,760 votes) and Samajwadi Party candidate Aftaw Ahmed Siddiqui, who got 10,303 votes.

Mr Kulkarni said altogether 641038 votes were cast on August 29 out of total 13,96,230 voters in six assembly segments of the constituenty and 12 candidates were in the fray.

Mr Kulkarni said the total electioneering had passed off peacefully and altogether 30 cases of violation of Model Code of Conduct were booked.

The bypoll was necessetiated after the assassination of JMM MP Sunil Mahto by the Maoist rebels at Baghuria village in East Singhbhum district on March 4.

The JMM gave the ticket to late Mahto's widow Suman Mahto, who retained the seat with comfortable margin.

In her reaction soon after the announcement of her victory Mahto said she would fulfil the unfinished works of her late husband and also work for the empowerment of women.

Jharkhand deputy chief minister and the JMM leader Sudhir Mahto said it was a historic win and congratualed the UPA constituents for lending support to the JMM candidate.''It's a win for democracy and a befitting reply to the communal forces.''Mr Mahto said.

Meanwhile, the UPA supporters took out a huge victory rally to celebrate the win of thier candidate. The supporters were seen smearing 'Gulal' each others and chanted ''Suman Mahto Zindabad.

Sunil Mahto Amar Rahe''.

The defeated candidate Sarangi alleged that the UPA used government mechinaries in favour of its candidate and also said lack of voters' turn out in the urban areas were the reasons for his defeat.

UNI