Bihar by-poll: RJD wins Maharajganj by-poll

Maharganj: RJD's Prabhunath Singh has swept the Maharajganj by-poll with a massive 1.36 lakh vote margin. The win is a big blow for the Nitish Kumar government as it heralds the return of Lalu Prasad as a key player.

The main candidates were JD(U) leader and Bihar Education Minister PK Shahi, RJD's Prabhunath Singh and Congress candidate Jitendra Swami, the son of former RJD MP Umashankar Singh whose death necessitated the bypoll.

An upbeat Lalu Prasad, RJD President, who worked hard for his party candidate by staying in the constituency for the last 10 days, told reporters in Patna that the Maharajganj by-poll result would trigger the beginning of fall of the Nitish Kumar government.

"It will not be a defeat of Shahi but a defeat of Nitish Kumar in Maharajganj," he said. Lalu said the Maharajganj poll outcome would be an indication of things to come in the 2014 General Election for 40 seats in Bihar.

(With Additional Inputs From PTI)