UP bypolls: SP retains Bilari, Jangipur seats

SP candidate Mohammad Fahim won from Bilari and Kismati Devi won from Jangipur

Ruling Samajwadi Party today retained both Bilari and Jangipur Assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh where by-elections were held on May 16.

From Bilari (Moradabad/Shamli) Assembly seat, SP candidate Mohammad Fahim won with a margin of 7,063 votes against his nearest rival BJP's Suresh Saini, officials said.

From Jangipur (Ghazipur), SP candidate Kismati Devi won with a margin of 22,092 votes against her nearest rival BJP candidate Ramesh Singh, they said.

The Jangipur seat fell vacant after sitting MLA and Cabinet minister Kailash Yadav died of a brain hemorrhage in February, while bypoll in Bilari was necessitated due to the death of 64-year-old Haji Irfan in a road accident on March 10.

Yadav, who held the Panchayati Raj portfolio, wielded considerable influence in eastern UP and his death was considered a setback for the party.

Irfan, a first-time legislator, had died after the vehicle he was travelling in fell into a ditch.