Bebi Devi, the united candidate representing the ruling INDIA alliance, went head-to-head with Yashoda Devi, a candidate supported by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), an ally of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Bebi Devi garnered 100,317 votes, while Yashoda Devi received 83,614 votes.
In the Dumri Assembly by-election in Jharkhand, Bebi Devi of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) emerged victorious with a lead of over 17,000 votes, defeating NDA candidate Yashoda Devi. The by-election, held on September 5, witnessed a voter turnout of 64.84 percent out of a total of 2.98 lakh eligible voters.
Bebi Devi, who serves as the Excise Minister and is the wife of the late JMM leader and former Education Minister Jagarnath Mahto, continued her party’s winning streak in Dumri. Jagarnath Mahto had represented the seat for four consecutive terms since 2004 until his passing on April 9, 2023. Bebi Devi was inducted into the Hemant Soren cabinet on July 3.
Running as the joint candidate of the ruling INDIA alliance, Bebi Devi faced off against Yashoda Devi, backed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), an ally of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Bebi Devi secured 100,317 votes, while Yashoda Devi received 83,614 votes.
Despite efforts by AIMIM candidate Abdul Rizvi to make it a three-way contest, voters did not embrace the “Owaisi factor” in the by-election.
The JMM candidate, also representing the I.N.D.I.A bloc, secured approximately 100,317 votes, while the NDA candidate Yashoda Devi garnered about 83,164 votes after the tallying of 24 rounds of votes, according to the official results. Giridih Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer Naman Priyesh Lakra confirmed, “The vote counting proceeded smoothly, and JMM’s Bebi Devi won the election with a lead of 17,153 votes.”
Bebi Devi dedicated her victory as a heartfelt tribute to Mahto.
Addressing an event in West Singhbhum, Chief Minister Soren criticized the NDA allies, stating, “Their political influence has dwindled. They are employing agencies to target us, accusing us of corruption. Their efforts to destabilize my government began shortly after we assumed power. But don’t worry, by the time they attempt to imprison me, I will empower you (the people) so much that you will give them a resounding response,” said Soren.
