RJD-LJP alliance wins 8 seats in Bihar by-election

Patna, Sep 17 (ANI): Lalu Prasad -led Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and its ally Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) have made a come back in Bihar by winning eight seats in by-election held for 18 assembly seats.

The by-elections results are a set back for Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, as his party won three seats and its ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), won two seats.

The RJD won from Bochaha, Kalyanpur, Phulwarisharief, Aurai and Ramgarh seats while Ram Vilas Paswan's LJP won Warisnagar, Araria and Bodh Gaya seats.

The Congress won Chenari and Simari Bakhtiarpur seats and the Bahujan Samaj Party emerged victorious in one seat.

RJD's Uday Manjhi surprised the poll pundits by defeating JD-U's Shayam Rajak from Phulwarisharief. Rajak had left RJD and joined JD-U just two months ago.

Nitish Kumar had turned this seat as a prestige issue by campaigning like never before.

The by-elections for 18 seats were held in two phases in the state. In the first phase on September 10, polls were conducted in seven constituencies, while the rest went to polls on September 15. (ANI)