Breaking the jinx, Congress State president Sukhdeo Bhagat successfully cornered lohardaga Assembly constituency with a massive win over NDA candidate Niru Shanti Bhagat. The third time lucky Bhagat polled total 73,859 votes which was whopping 23,288 more than Niru Shanti, the BJP-AJSU combined candidate. Dismal third among the nine spirants remained JVM’s Bandhu Tirkey who could get just 16,951 votes.
Bhagat, who had won the Assembly election way back in 2005 while losing the two others held thereafter thinly by around 600 votes, took a decisive lead from the first round of counting itself and widened it with every rounds. Finally the bugle was sounded after 20 rounds that brought much awaited smile for the beleaguered leader. As the Assembly is also in motion, Bhagat would take oath on December 21.
“It is a win of the people of lohardaga for whom I have been like a son. They refused me two times but have accepted finally. I thank on the occasion the voters and political parties such as JD-U, RJD and even JMM who extended moral support and helped indirectly. I will always be available for the people and work for their betterment,” said Sukhdeo Bhagat after the declaration was made by the counting officer at lohardaga on Thursday.
Moreover when asked whether an opportunity of Opposition unity against the BJP lost, Bhagat rapped Babulal Marandi harshly. “Babulal Marandi tried everything to ensure a loss of the Congress. He has been working a supply agent of the BJP in the past and is still continuing. Previously he supplied eight MlAs to the BJP before the Assembly polls and after the elections he supplied another six.
He has been exposed badly,” said Bhagat terming the result as beginning of NDA’s slide in the State. The JVM had fielded former Mandar MlA Bandhu Tirkey from lohardaga who fared badly.
The win is being considered extremely crucial for Bhagat who was fighting the battle of his lifetime. After losing in 2009 and 2014 Assembly polls, the by-poll came as life jacket for the JPCC president who was even battling for keep the post with him. His rival camp led by former PCC chief Pradeep Balmuchu, Rajya Sabha MP Dheeraj Sahu and former MP Rameshwar Oroan was working tirelessly against him. However, Bhagat managed to tame the tide from inside and brought some of the gladiators into his flank on time.
Nevertheless, the thumping win for Congress came a shocker for the ruling NDA who became weaker by one member in the House. Thought the party officially played down the drubbing that came despite BJP extending its full support for Niru Shanti and also after Chief Minister Raghubar Das holding election rallies there.
“May be selection of candidate was wrong. The party worked in haste by backing the candidate given by the AJSU. Voters are changing and they do not like family affairs in democratic processes,” said a top party functionary.
Niru is the newly-wed wife of jailed leader Kamal Kishore Bhagat who had to vacate the seat due to criminal conviction. Both got married a day before Bhagat went into jail which was perceived as a clear attempt to keep the seat within the family, despite having several other contenders.