The by-elections for 13 assembly seats in seven states were held on July 10, with counting of votes starting today at 8 am. Notable candidates include Kamlesh Thakur, wife of the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh. These by-elections were called due to the death or resignation of previous MLAs. The Amarwada seat in Madhya Pradesh had the highest voter turnout at 78.38%.
By-elections in Bihar: JD(U) Retains Rupauli Seat
In a crucial by-election, the Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) has retained the Rupauli Assembly constituency in Bihar. Bima Bharti, the JD(U) candidate, emerged victorious over her rivals from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and other parties.
Background
The Rupauli by-election was necessitated by the demise of Suresh Paswan, the sitting JD(U) MLA, in May 2022. The constituency is located in the Purnia district of Bihar and has a mix of rural and urban voters.
Contesting Candidates
Several prominent candidates contested the election, including:
Campaigning
The election campaign was intense, with all parties making promises to improve the constituency. The JD(U) focused on its record of development in Bihar, while the RJD and BJP highlighted issues of unemployment and inflation.
Results
Bima Bharti secured a comfortable victory, polling 63,949 votes. Her nearest rival, Chandra Prakash Sinha of the RJD, managed 34,811 votes. Ketaki Devi of the BJP came third with 31,059 votes.
Significance
The Rupauli by-election is significant for several reasons:
Top 5 FAQs and Answers
1. When was the Rupauli by-election held? A: July 10, 2022
2. Who won the election? A: Bima Bharti (JD(U))
3. Who was the incumbent MLA? A: Suresh Paswan (JD(U))
4. Who were the main opposition candidates? A: Chandra Prakash Sinha (RJD), Ketaki Devi (BJP)
5. What is the significance of the result? A: It strengthens the position of the JD(U) in Bihar and indicates the political dynamics ahead of the 2024 general elections.
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