Independent clinches Rupauli seat; ‘stunning result’, says RJD

In a classic case of dark horse winning race, Independent candidate Shankar Singh Saturday clinched the Rupauli Assembly seat in Bihar bypoll.

The bye-election was necessitated by resignation of JD(U) MLA who sought re-election an RJD ticket. Bima Bharti, a former Bihar minister who had won the seat for JD(U) three times on the trot, failed to retain it on an RJD ticket.

JD(U) candidate Kaladhar Prasad Mandal, who had joined the party recently, put up a spirited fight. RJD spokesperson Shakti Yadav said, “It is a stunning result. Two OBC candidates have lost. Those working on agenda of the BJP have succeeded. The backward classes must introspect.”