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