The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has retained the Antagad Assembly seat in the Naxalite-affected north Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, winning the by-election held on September 13.
Bhojraj Nag of the party defeated his only rival, Rupdhar Pudo of the Ambedkarite Party of India, by 51,530 votes, the Chief Election Officer said in a press statement on Saturday. The polling percentage was 56.
The by-election was held as Vikram Usendi vacated the seat on winning the Lok Sabha election from Kanker.
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Manturam Pawar of the Congress withdrew his nomination at the last minute allegedly at the behest of the BJP, fuelling a war of words between the two parties.
The Congress said the BJP was “killing democracy,” whereas some of its own leaders criticised the party leadership for fielding a “weak and unwilling” candidate.