Around 67 percent of 2.20 lakh electorate on Monday voted in the Lohardaga assembly by-election in Jharkhand to fill up a seat that fell vacant after the AJSU legislator was jailed.
The polling, in an area where Maoists wield influence, was peaceful, officials said. The polling began at 7 a.m. and ended at 3 p.m.
There were nine candidates and 272 polling stations.
The three main contestants were Niru Bhagat of the All Jharkhand Students Union, who is backed by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Sukhdeo Bhagat of the Congress and Bandhu Tirkey of the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik (JVM-P).
The seat fell vacant after AJSU legislator Kamla Kishore Bhagat was handed a seven-year jail term in July in an extortion case. Niru Bhagat is his wife.
The election is seen as a litmus test for the BJP. The seat is reserved for tribals.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app