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February 7, 2008
CPI Wins Simeria By-election in Jharkhand

Ranchi
The Communist Party of India (CPI) Thursday won the Simeria assembly by-election in Jharkhand by over 7,000 votes.

CPI candidate Ram Chandra Ram got 30,700 votes, defeating Jharkhand Vikas Morcha -Democratic (JVM-Democratic) candidate Jai Prakash Bhokta. The Congress finished third and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came fourth.

It is a big day for the CPI, which has got its first legislator in the Jharkhand assembly.

"We will try to cement the third front in the state. The results are a suitable reply to both the Congress and the BJP," said Bhuneshwar Mehta, the Lok Sabha MP from Hazaribagh.

The results were a big blow to the BJP, which held the seat. The by-poll was necessitated after BJP legislator Upendra Nath Das died two months ago due to cancer.

The Congress, which had fielded its candidate despite stiff opposition from the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) partners, also had a lot at stake.

Union minister and Jharkhand in charge Ajay Maken had announced that it would move against the Madhu Koda government after the by-election. The 60-day Congress ultimatum to the government to improve its record had ended Jan 15.

Railway Minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad had campaigned for the CPI candidate. 

February 7, 2008 

IANS | Top