INDIA alliance-backed JMM candidate Bebi Devi retained the Dumri Assembly seat in Jharkhand, defeating NDA alliance-supported Ajsu candidate Yashoda Devi by over 17,000 votes in the bypoll.

This is the sixth byelection held in Jharkhand after the 2019 Assembly polls. So far, the ruling dispensation has won five while the NDA (BJP-Ajsu) have won one.

The result is a morale booster for the ruling JMM-Congress-RJD dispensation after it lost one of its seats (Ramgarh) in March to the BJP-Ajsu combine.

"The election results are a tribute to the deceased Jagarnath Mahato. More importantly, it affirms people's support for the government’s policies. The voters have reposed their faith in us despite all kinds of divisive tactics, misuse of federal agencies to tarnish image of the chief minister (Hemant Soren) and money power used by the Centre (BJP) and its ally (Ajsu) in the bypoll,” said JMM central general secretary and party spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya.

Mahato was the former education minister who had represented the Dumri constituency for four consecutive terms. His death had necessitated the bypoll.

The Enforecement Directorate has served a third summons to Hemant (scheduled on September 9) in connection with a probe into an alleged money-laundering case. The chief minister has accused the central government of misusing federal agencies to disturb the non-BJP government in the country.

At rallies, Hemant has also accused Ajsu of trying to influence voters in Dumri using money power.

Political observer and veteran journalist Sudhir Pal said the bypoll was crucial as it was the second instance of the BJP-Ajsu fighting unitedly after Ramgarh.

"In 2019, both the BJP and Ajsu had fought the Assembly elections separately. However, they came together for Ramgarh bypolls and wrested the seat from the Congress earlier this year. The Dumri bypoll was a real test for the ruling dispensation because in 2019 the BJP and Ajsu had separately polled significant votes and their combined percentage was better than Jagarnath Mahato's individual percentage. The result is a morale boosting one for the ruling dispensation keeping this in perspective,” said Pal.