Belaganj, the constituency located in Gaya district of Bihar, went to polls in the first phase of upcoming assembly elections in the state. The vidhan sabha seat primarily witnessed a contest between archrivals Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Janata Dal (United). Results declared by the Election Commission showed sitting MLA and RJD veteran Surendra Prasad Yadav retaining the seat. Bihar Election Results 2020: NDA Wins Another Term With 125 Seats.

Belaganj was among the 71 constituencies that will go to polls in the first phase of elections in Bihar, scheduled on October 28. The seat is considered to be a RJD bastion, being represented since the last 20 years by party veteran Surendra Prasad Yadav.

Schedule of Bihar Phase 1 Elections

Last Date For Filing Nomination  October 8
Scrutiny of Nominations  October 9
Last date for Nomination Withdrawal  October 12
Voting Date  October 28
Result Date  November 10

From the Mahagathbandhan, the Belaganj seat was allotted to the RJD, whose sitting MLA has been winning the constituency since 2000. The rival NDA camp allowed JD(U) to contest from the seat. The latter has fielded Abhay Kumar Sinha to take on RJD's Surendra Prasad Yadav. In the 2015 assembly polls, Yadav had defeated his nearest rival - Sharim Ali of HAM(S) by a margin of over 30,000 votes.

The elections in Bihar was the first major electoral battle after the outbreak of COVID-19. The pre-poll surveys had given the edge to the JD(U)-BJP-led NDA camp, despite stating the possibility of an anti-incumbency factor against Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

MLA CandidatesPartyVotes
SOHARAI PASWANPublic Mission Party883
SURENDRA PRASAD YADAV (Current MLA)RJD79708
SHAHADAT HUSSAINBharat Bhrashtachar Mitao Party692
GUPTESHWAR KUMAR BHARTISwabhiman Party605
ABHAY KUMAR SINHAJD(U)55745
ARUN KUMARIND471
SYED SHARIM ALIIND4411
MOHAMMED EKRAMSamajwadi Janata Dal Democratic3803
GEETA DEVIIND2635
MOHAMMED IQBALIND1796
KUSUM KUMARIPeoples Party of India (Democratic)1440
ABHAY KUMARNCP1310
RAMASHRAY SHARMALJPNA

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 16, 2020 12:16 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).