JD-U suffers setback in Bihar bypoll

The outcome of the October 21 by-elections held in five Assembly constituencies in Bihar seems to have dented key NDA ally JD-U's image. The results have provided a lifeline to the opposition RJD.

The ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U) went on to lose three of its assembly seats in the bypolls. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), however, registered win in two seats.

In the 2015 Assembly election, the RJD bagged 80 seats. The party later lost its Dehri seat in the bypolls following which its tally in the 244-member Assembly came down to 79. It, however, made improvement this time by winning two seats, taking the tally to 81.

The Bharatiya Janata Party in 2015 polls won 53 seats. The party later added one more seat (Dehri) to its kitty. The results of October 21 bypolls have not reduced the saffron party's count in the Assembly.

Its key ally -- JD-U, however, is dealing with a deficit post Thursday results.

In 2015, the JD-U won 71 seats. Later, its tally rose to 73 after two Rashtriya Lok Samata Party MLAs joined the JD-U. Now, it is left with 70 seats in the Assembly after losing 3 in the October 21 by-election.

On the other hand, the Congress' tally in Bihar Assembly is reduced to 26 after it lost Kishanganj to Asaduddin Owaisi's MIM which opened its electoral account in the state by registering a win.

Besides, the number of Independents in the Assembly rose to 5 now after an independent won the bypoll from Daraunda.IANS