Jokihaat byelection: RJD, JD-U locked in tough fight

Tribune News Service

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Patna, May 23

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) candidate Shahnawaz Alam is likely to give tough fight to Janata Dal United (JD-U) candidate Murshid Alam besides seven other candidates in the fray for the Jokihaat Assembly bypoll in Araria district of Bihar scheduled for May 28.

The seat fell vacant after its JD-U sitting MLA Sarfraz Alam resigned from the party to contest Araria parliamentary bypoll on RJD ticket. The RJD registered its emphatic victory in the bypoll defeating its nearest rival of BJP candidate Pradeep Singh. Araria district is considered to be the stronghold of RJD and its sitting MP Mohammad Taslimuddin’s death had necessitated the bypoll.

Taslimuddin’s son Sarfraz Alam had won Jokihaat poll twice on JD-U ticket. Murshihd Alam, too, had won twice from this seat on JD-U ticket. The ruling JD-U has been striving hard to retain the seat again in the bypoll, claiming its own stronghold.

“The Jokihaat constituency is also stronghold of Mohammad Taslimuddin whose death necessitated Araria parliamentary bypoll. His younger son Shahnawaz Alam is ready to give tough fight to JD-U candidate,” said Mohammad Sajad, a local resident.