BJP nominee for the Rajya Sabha bypoll MJ Akbar won the seat comfortably as expected in the political circles. Akbar who had the backing of AJSU polled 48 votes while his rival JMM’s Haji Hussain Ansari could manage just 29.
Some technical glitches arose earlier in the day though the BJP camp managed to pocket support of more than what was in the store. BSP MlA Kushwaha Shivpujan Mehta and Jai Bharat Samanta Party’s Geeta Koda keeping aside all the speculations voted for Akbar.
However, one vote of AJSU’s Chandra Prakash Chaudhary was found invalid as he had shown it to all besides, party’s official polling agent. Officially, the camp had 43 votes of the BJP and four from the AJSU.
Declaring the final outcome at around 7.45 pm Returning Officer Sushil Kumar Singh said that the Election Commission had instructed to keep aside Chaudhury’s vote due to the mistake and final result was cleared thereafter.
Geeta Koda, wife of former Chief Minister Madhu Koda, who is facing grave charges of corruption in coal scam, sat with Chief Minister Raghubar Das before and after polling for the BJP nominee and thereafter received a see-off from OSD to the CM, Rakesh Kumar Chaudhary. “She voted listening to her conscience. Those who have voted for the NDA have acted wisely,” said Chief Whip of the BJP Radha Krishna Kishore.
This changed formula brought down the Opposition’s number even further. Before the poll it was expected that Ansari could manage 33 votes taking along all the party against the ruling coalition. Worst, the Opposition besides, losing two from its camp also failed to bring jail birds Ainosh Ekka and Bhanu Pratap Shahi despite getting approvals.