Bihar bypoll results: RJD wins Jehanabad, BJP Bhabua; counting underway in Araria

The race is tight in Bihar with RJD leading in two out of the three seats.

The Rashtriya Janata Party is leading in two out of the three seats in Bihar where byelections were held on Sunday. While the RJD is leading in Araria Lok Sabha and Jehanabad Assembly seats, the BJP, on the other hand, has maintained a lead in Bhabhua Assembly seat since the counting of votes began today.

Bihar is witnessing its first electoral battle since Janata Dal (United) chief and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar walked out of the alliance with the RJD-Congress and joined the BJP-led NDA last year.

Fifty-seven per cent polling was recorded in the by-election to the Araria Lok Sabha constituency while in the Bhabua and Jehanabad Assembly constituencies, the voter turnout was 54.03 per cent and 50.06 per cent respectively after polling ended on Sunday.

Here are the live updates:

14 March 2018

17:09 IST

Bihar bypoll result: BJP should stop working for its face value and instead put in efforts to work for the people. That's the only way in which they can improve or else they will face the same result in the 2019 elections as they have in this bypoll, says ex-CM Jitan Ram Manjhi

BJP should stop working for its face value & instead put in efforts to work for the people. That's the only way in which they can improve or else they will face the same result in the 2019 elections as they have in this bypoll: Jitan Ram Manjhi on #Biharbypoll results pic.twitter.com/eqmqgjZlTR

— ANI (@ANI) March 14, 2018

17:06 IST

Bihar has given sympathy vote this time. I'd like to thank all those who've supported us. We welcome the mandate of people. We will certainly win the elections of 2019 under the leadership of PM Modi & BJP President Amit Shah: says BJP Bihar President Nityanand Rai

17:03 IST

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav dedicates party win in Jehanabad seat to people of Bihar, tweets: 

_________ ____ __ __ _____ ____ _____, ____ _______ __ ____ ________ __ ___ __ ___ __ ___ ____ __ ____ _____ ____ ___ _____ __ __________ _____ __ _____ __ _______ __ ___ ___ ___ __ ___ __ _____ __ ____ ____ __ _______ ____ ___

— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) March 14, 2018

17:01 IST

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said, "Those who said Lalu is finished, we can tell them that Lalu is not a person but an idea. I thank the people of Bihar and Manjhi ji for this victory."

17:00 IST

RJD lawmakers raise slogans in Parliament saying 'Lalu and RJD won byelection in Bihar'

16:13 IST

BJP's candidate from Jehanabad, Rinki Rani Pandey credited the victory to the public saying she will fulfill the incomplete work left by her husband.

15:39 IST

BJP candidate Rinki Rani Pandey wins from Bhabua constituency, defeats Congress candidate Shambhu Patel with a margin of over 15,000 votes

15:39 IST

Bihar bypoll: RJD's Jehanabad candidate Krishna Mohan emerges victorious in Jehanabad seat with a margin of 35,036 votes.

15:29 IST

RJD wins Jehanabad constituency in Bihar. Counting underway in Araria Lok Sabha seat and Bhabua constituency. 

15:13 IST

BJP's Bhabua candidate Rinki Pandey was leading by over 6,000 votes over Sambhu Patel of Congress, a RJD ally.

15:13 IST

RJD candidate Suday Yadav ahead by over 16,000 votes in Jehanabad over his nearest Janata Dal (United) rival Abhiram Sharma.

15:11 IST

After 16 rounds of vote count, RJD's Sarfaraz Alam takes a lead of over 15,000 votes in Araria over BJP's Pradip Kumar Singh. 

15:09 IST

Lalu Yadav's Twitter handle replies to Mamata Banerjee's congratulatory message. "Thank you Didi..Together We are fighting, we shall fight & We will Win," the post read.

Thank you Didi..Together We are fighting, we shall fight & We will Win. https://t.co/j92Ro6Z9UI

— Lalu Prasad Yadav (@laluprasadrjd) March 14, 2018

15:07 IST

West Bengal Chief Minister extends wishes to RJD over party's performance in Araria Lok Sabha seat and Jehanabad assembly seat, tweets, "Congratulations to @laluprasadrjd Ji for winning #Araria and #Jehanabad This is a great victory."

Congratulations to @laluprasadrjd Ji for winning #Araria and #Jehanabad This is a great victory

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) March 14, 2018

14:59 IST

RJD's Misa Bharti says current trends in Bihar bypolls have announced the end of Nitish Kumar's politics

__ __ _______ __ _____ __ _____ _____ __ _______ __ _______ __ _____ __ ___ _____ __ ____ __ ____ ______ __ _____ _____ __ ____ _______ __ ____ ____ __ ____ ______

- Dr. Misa Bharti (@MisaBharti) March 14, 2018

14:59 IST

RJD MLA Bhola Yadav says, "People of Bihar have bid their goodbye to Nitish Kumar and the byelections results are a proof to this. The people want a Nitish Kumar-free Bihar."

14:38 IST

As RJD inches towards win in Jehanabad, party leader Subhash Rai hails Tejashwi Yadav's leadership, says "This is the victory of the leadership of Tejashwi Yadav. The people have given the reply to Nitish Kumar as they have made their mind for the 2019 general assembly elections. Country will see a change."

13:53 IST

Of the three Lok Sabha seats in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, that went to the by-election, the Samajwadi Party is leading in two – Gorakhpur and Phulpur. 

The RJD is ahead in Araria Lok Sabha and Jehanabad Assembly seats whereas the BJP has maintained a lead in Bhabhua Assembly seat.

13:50 IST

RJD leading in Araria by 23,187 votes

13:49 IST

Round 9 of vote count ends in Araria, RJD candidate Sarfaraz Alam ahead by 14,581 votes 

13:30 IST

RJD candidate Sarfaraz Alam is ahead by 3506 votes after round 8 of vote counting in Araria Lok Sabha seat

13:25 IST

After ninth round of counting, RJD is leading in Araria by over 14,000 votes.

13:03 IST

Gorakhpur has been a BJP stronghold and the party has been in power on this seat for the past 29 years. This seat has been represented by UP CM Yogi Adityanath for last five terms.

On the other hand, Phulpur was the bastion of the Congress and has been represented by Jawaharlal Nehru. In 2014, it witnessed a saffron surge and went to BJP. 

12:38 IST

Araria Lok Sabha constituency comprises six assembly segments of Narpatganj, Raniganj (SC), Forbesganj, Araria, Jokhihat and Sikti. 

According to India Today, out of the six assembly segments, four have high concentration of either Yadavs or Muslims - both traditional RJD supporters.

12:28 IST

After the fourth round of vote counting in Araria, BJP has managed to regain the leading spot. Party candidate Pradip Singh is racing ahead with 6605 votes. 

12:20 IST

After round 10 of vote counting, RJD candidate from Jehanabad Kumar Krishna Mohan alias Suday Yadav is leading by 15,000 votes.

12:18 IST

Bihar bypoll: Union minister Ramkripal Yadav says he is totally convinced that NDA candidates will taste victory in all the three seats -- Araria Lok Saha seat, Bhabua Assembly constituency and Jehanabad Assembly constituency.

12:07 IST

Samajwadi Party files complaint with the Election Commission over Gorakhpur media gag.

11:52 IST

BJP leading in Bhabua after 8th round of counting with 19,738 votes. RJD leading in Jehanabad after 10th round of counting with 29,551 votes.

11:34 IST

RJD candidate Sarfaraz Alam is leading in Araria by 1409 votes.

11:33 IST

Bihar Assembly by-polls: BJP leading in Bhabua by 2,528 votes and RJD leading in Jehanabad by 8,899 votes.

11:23 IST

Araria Lok Sabha by-poll: BJP leading by 8,979 with total 1,13,169 votes, RJD is at second position with total 1,04,190 votes.

11:22 IST

Gorakhpur DM Rajeev Rautela is present at the vote counting centre. 

11:07 IST

As per reports, Gorakhpur DM Rajeev Rautela has barred the entry of media personnel at the counting centre and are has instructed to not give the live updates of the elections to them.

10:51 IST

Araria Lok Sabha bypoll: BJP leading with 58,225 votes, RJD second with 55,334

10:49 IST

Bihar Assembly bypoll: BJP is leading by 2714 votes in Bhabua; RJD leading in Jehanabad.

10:49 IST

Araria: BJP is leading with 58,225 votes where as RJD is second with 55,334 votes.

10:39 IST

Bhabua: Congress candidate Shambhu Singh Patel was offered the seat in the last minute after the RJD backed out. 

He is in the second spot after BJP candidate Rinki Rani, who is leading at the seat by a margin of over 2700 votes.

10:24 IST

Bihar bypoll: RJD candidate Kumar Krishna Mohan is leading in Jehababad

10:17 IST

BJP candidate Pradeep Kumar Singh ahead with 4203 votes in Araria.

The seat is considered as a stronghold of RJD. The constituency is witnessing a close fight between BJP's Pradip Singh and RJD candidate Sarafaraz Alam. Araria witnessed a moderate voter turnout of 57 per cent.

10:14 IST

BJP's Pradip Singh is leading by 2,300 votes in Araria Lok Sabha seat, while its candidate Rani Rinki Pandey is leading with 2,576 votes in Bhabua. 

In Jehanabad, It's a neck and neck battle between RJD's Kumar Krishna Mohan and JD(U)'s Abhiram Sharma.

10:13 IST

Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) is leading in Jehanabad by a difference of 34 votes. 

In 2015 assembly polls, RJD's Mundrika Singh Yadav won the seat defeating Rashtriya Lok Samta Party's Praveen Kumar with a margin of over 30,000 votes.

10:05 IST

BJP candidate Rinki Rani Pandey leading with 2,576 votes in Bhabua. The seat got vacant after the death of BJP's Anand Bhushan Pandey, and the party has fielded his wife Rinki Rani Pandey.

09:53 IST

Visuals of counting of votes from a counting centre in Pipraich: 

#visuals of counting of votes from a counting centre in Pipraich. #GorakhpurByPoll@myogiadityanath @BJP4UP pic.twitter.com/GSO2SWu3ET

— Zee Salaam (@zeesalaamtweet) March 14, 2018

09:39 IST

Bihar byelection result: BJP candidate Rinky Rani is leading in Bhabua 

09:38 IST

Counting of votes in Araria countinues: 

EVMs opened at a counting centre in Bihar's Araria as counting of votes continues. pic.twitter.com/O4DQnJGu3P

— ANI (@ANI) March 14, 2018

09:31 IST

Bihar Assembly bypolls: BJP is leading in Kaimur and RJD is leading in Jehanabad after first round of counting

09:30 IST

Rashtriya Janata Dal leading in Araria with 2111 votes.

09:17 IST

BJP leading in Araria Lok Sabha seat after first round of counting.

08:30 IST

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav had claimed that the Nitish Kumar government is playing 'dirty tricks' to win the bypolls in Bihar. He had claimed that the state government appointed its own officers to conduct elections and tilt them in its favour. 

Inspite of Nitish govt playing all dirty tricks in #BiharBypoll we are winning with huge margins. He is deputing his own officers there to influence elections. pic.twitter.com/WLCk7xWYDU

— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) March 11, 2018

08:28 IST

Postal ballots are being counted in Bihar.

08:08 IST

RJD ahead in Araria and Jehanabad Assembly, BJP in Bhabua

08:07 IST

Bihar is witnessing its first electoral battle since Janata Dal United chief and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar walked out of the alliance with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress and joined the BJP-led NDA last year.

08:03 IST

Counting of votes begins for Bihar bypolls

07:58 IST

#Bihar: Counting for #Araria Lok Sabha by-poll to begin at 8 am, visuals of preparation from a counting centre. pic.twitter.com/eTNrqM2RN7

— ANI (@ANI) March 14, 2018