Patna: RJD leader Bima Bharti on Tuesday staked claim for Rupauli assembly seat in Purnia district that she represented five times in the past. By-poll to this seat is scheduled for July 10.
Bima, who was elected from this seat on JD(U) ticket in 2020 assembly polls, resigned from this seat in March this year after getting the RJD ticket to contest the Purnia LS seat although she lost it badly.
She managed to get just little over 27,000 votes and finished distant third as the Independent candidate Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav emerged victorious, defeating JD(U) rival Santosh Kumar in a bitter battle of ballots.
On Tuesday, Bima accompanied by her husband Awadhesh Mandal reached Rabri Devi’s residence and staked claim over Rupauli seat where by-election is scheduled for July 10.
“Either I or my husband will contest from this seat. Victory and defeat are part and parcel of politics, and I am not a bit bothered by this defeat,” Bima told the media persons after meeting Lalu. She said she had little time to prepare for Purnia LS polls since she got the ticket at the last moment. She said Lalu had given her his blessings and only “her family” would contest from there.
JD(U) has fielded Kaladhar Prasad Mandal from this seat. He filed his nomination on Tuesday in ten presence of senior party leaders.