Bihar by-polls test for BJP-JD(U)

Out of 6 assembly seats in Araria, two each are held by the BJP and the JD(U) while one each belongs to the RJD and the Congress

The by-polls to a Lok Sabha and two assembly seats in Bihar will be the first electoral test of the BJP-JD(U) alliance with incarcerated RJD chief Lalu Prasad making it a prestige battle to underline his party’s strength ahead of the next parliamentary elections.

Two of the three seats, Araria parliamentary and Jehanabad assembly constituencies, are particularly significant as the RJD’s so-called Muslim-Yadav (MY) arithmetic is strong there but if a traditional consolidation of JD(U) and BJP voters happen, then their candidates can fare well, poll watchers said.

Both seats were held by the RJD and deaths of Mohammed Taslimuddin, who won