CPI's Ramchandra Ram snatches Simaria from BJP

Chatra, Feb 7 (UNI) After five consecutive defeats, CPI's Ramchandra Ram backed by JMM and RJD, today won the Simaria bypoll wresting the Assembly seat from the BJP which was placed in the fourth place.

Jharkhand Vikash Morcha (P) candidate Jaiprakash Singh Bhokta finished second bagging 23,092 votes followed by Congress Yogendra Nath Baitha polling 19,700 votes.

BJP's Kumar Ujjwal who made his electoral debut to retain the seat that fell vacant following the death of his father Upendra Nath Das could manage to secure only 18,234 votes.

Congress improved its position as in the last Assembly polls the party finished fifth with 5010 votes.

Last time, BJP bagged 31,858 votes followed by CPI's Ramchandra Ram with 24,438 votes and Mr Upendra Baitha of the RJD ticket with 17,859.

About 46 per cent polling of an estimated 2.4 lakh electorate was recorded to decide the fate of 14 candidates in the byelection to the Naxal-dominated seat on February four.

UNI XC-PRS MSJ DS1536