Patna, May 14 In a significant political development in Bihar, the NDA has suffered its first electoral defeat since Samrat Choudhary assumed office as Chief Minister.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)-backed Mahagathbandhan candidate Sonu Kumar Rai won the Legislative Council bye-election for the Bhojpur–Buxar Local Authorities constituency, defeating Janata Dal (United) nominee Kanhaiya Prasad by 340 votes.
Voting for the bye-election was held on May 12, with counting beginning at 8:00 A.M. on Thursday.
Out of a total of 5,956 votes cast, Sonu Kumar Rai secured 2,486 votes, while Kanhaiya Prasad received 2,146 votes. Manoj Upadhyay got 636 votes, and as many as 621 votes were declared invalid.
The counting process was conducted across 13 tables in two rounds.
Sonu Kumar Rai maintained a consistent lead from the initial rounds of counting.
As the trend became clear, enthusiasm grew among RJD workers and supporters.
Following the official declaration of results, celebrations erupted, with party workers distributing sweets.
The victory is being seen as a major boost for the Mahagathbandhan and a morale setback for the NDA government in the state.
The seat had fallen vacant after Radhacharan Seth resigned upon being elected as an MLA.
Sonu Kumar Rai, son of former MLC Laldas Rai, has long been associated with the RJD and its leadership under Tejashwi Yadav.
RJD Chief Spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav hailed the victory, stating, “Wherever elections are conducted through ballot papers, we will win.”
He further alleged irregularities in elections conducted via Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), a claim often raised in political debates, though denied by the Election Commission of India.
Ejaz Ahmed, spokesperson for the Bihar State RJD, stated that this victory serves as a clear affirmation — stamped by the people of Bhojpur and Buxar — of the public's enduring trust and support for the RJD.
Kanhaiya Prasad, son of Radhacharan Seth, was fielded by the JD(U) with backing from the NDA.
Despite the party’s efforts, he fell short in the closely-contested election.
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