RJD Confident of Winning Back Muslim Support Base
As far as caste equations go, out of the six Assembly segments in Araria, four have a high concentration of either the Yadavs or Muslims, both of whom have been traditional RJD voters, PTI reported.
The RJD is hopeful that its traditional support base, the Muslim-Yadav combine, along with Dalits, which forms a major chunk of the electorate, votes for its candidate. According to PTI, the party is not ready to concede as it now has Mahadalit leader Jitan Ram Manjhi as an ally.
Manjhi, the former chief minister of the state, left the NDA claiming that “faulty” sand mining policy of the Nitish Kumar government had stalled construction activities, thereby adversely affecting Mahadalit and EBC workers.
Manjhi's Hindustani Awami Morcha-Secular (HAM-S) cut his ties with the NDA and joined the RJD-led Grand Alliance on 28 February.
Two-plus-two is not always four in politics. The JD(U) and the BJP may have come together again, but it would be hard for them to revive their old electoral chemistry.RJD vice president Shivanand Tiwary to PTI
"Nitish Kumar has lost his sway among the Mahadalits because of the ill-treatment meted out to leaders like former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi who is now with us," he told PTI.
(With PTI and ANI inputs)
Tejashwi Yadav Addresses Media After RJD's Victory in Jehanabad and Araria
Addressing the media after RJD’s win in Jehanabad and Araria, Tejashwi Yadav said:
This is no ordinary victory. This win will give direction to the nation.Tejashwi Yadav
Tejashwi took a dig at JDU’s Nitish Kumar accusing him of moral corruption and saying it was time for him to offer an explanation.
He also welcomed those leaders who were dissatisfied with the NDA into the fold of the mahagathbandhan (grand alliance).
Bihar By-Election Results: RJD Clinches Araria By Huge Margin
RJD’s Sarfaraz Alam won the Araria Lok Sabha constituency by 61,988 votes. RJD polled a total of 5,09,334 votes while BJP got 4,47,346 votes.
RJD Cadres Celebrate Victory
RJD party workers celebrating the party’s victory in Patna.
"Bihar Has Given Sympathy Votes": Bihar BJP President
Bihar’s BJP President Nityanand Rai said that people have given sympathy votes for RJD in the bypoll constituencies and that they will “certainly win” the 2019 elections.
Bihar has given sympathy vote this time. I’d like to thank all those who’ve supported us. We welcome the mandate of people. We will certainly win the elections of 2019 under the leadership of PM Modi and BJP President Amit Shah.Nityanand Rai, BJP Bihar President