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{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2008 Simaria by-election
| country = India
| flag_year =
| type = By-election
| ongoing =
| party_colour =
| previous_election = [[2005 Jharkhand Legislative Assembly election]]
| previous_year = 2005
| next_election = [[2009 Jharkhand Legislative Assembly election]]
| next_year = 2009
| election_date =
| seats_for_election =
| turnout =
| image1 = [[File:South Asian Communist Banner.png|100px]]
| candidate1 = [[Ram Chandra Ram]]
| party1 = Communist Party of India
| popular_vote1 = 30,700
| percentage1 = 26.31%
| swing1 =
| image2 = [[File:No flag.svg|100px]]
| candidate2 = [[Jai Prakash Singh Bhogta]]
| party2 = Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik)
| popular_vote2 = 23,092
| percentage2 = 19.79%
| swing2 =
| image3 =
| candidate3 = [[Yogendra Nath Baitha]]
| party3 = Indian National Congress
| popular_vote3 = 19,700
| percentage3 = 16.88%
| swing3 =
| map_image =
| map_size =
| map_caption =
| title =
| posttitle =
| before_election =
| before_colour =
| after_election =
| after_colour =
| before_party =
| after_party =
| result =
}}
On 4 February 2008 '''a by-election was held in for the [[Simaria (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Simaria]] ([[Scheduled Caste|SC]]) seat''' of the [[Vidhan Sabha|Legislative Assembly]] of the Indian state of [[Jharkhand]]. The by-election was called after the death of the sitting [[Member of Legislative Assembly (India)|MLA]] [[Upendra Nath Das]].<ref name="eb">Election Commission of India. ''[http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/ByeElection/07to08/ac/bye_26jh.htm Bye Election of Assembly Constituency of Jharkhand – Assembly Constituency – 26- Simaria (SC)]''</ref>

==Precedents==
[[Bharatiya Janata Party]] legislator Upendra Nath Das, who had been elected from Simaria in the [[2005 Jharkhand Legislative Assembly election]], died from cancer on 6 August 2007.<ref name="n">WebIndia123. ''[http://news.webindia123.com/news/ar_showdetails.asp?id=708130810&cat=&n_date=20070813 Jharkhand BJP legislator dead]''</ref> In the 2005 election his main competitors had been [[Ram Chandra Ram]] from the [[Communist Party of India]] and [[Yogendra Nath Baitha]] from the [[Rashtriya Janata Dal]].<ref>Election Commission of India. ''[http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_2005/StatisticalReports_JH_2005.pdf STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 2005 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF JHARKHAND]''</ref> The notification for the by-poll was issued on 10 January 2008.<ref name="o">OneIndia. ''[http://www.oneindia.com/2008/01/21/ugdp-withdraws-nomination-14-in-the-fray-for-simaria-bypoll-1200920678.html UGDP withdraws nomination; 14 in the fray for Simaria bypoll]''</ref>

Before the by-election the ruling coalition led by [[Madhu Koda]] held 42 out of the 82 seats of the Legislative Assembly; 17 from [[Jharkhand Mukti Morcha]], 9 from the Indian National Congress, 7 from RJD and 9 independents.<ref name="n1">nerve.in. ''[http://www.nerve.in/news:253500123784 Congress makes clear stand against Jharkhand chief minister]''</ref> As [[United Progressive Alliance]] partners could not agree of a single candidate, Koda declared himself neutral in the by-election and did not campaign for any candidate.<ref name="n2">nerve.in. ''[http://www.nerve.in/news:253500126169 Cracks in UPA before Simeria by-election]''</ref>

==Candidates==
Fifteen nominations were presented for the by-election, but one candidate (Binod Bihari Paswan of [[United Goans Democratic Party|UGDP]]) withdrew from the race.<ref name="eb"/><ref name="o"/> In total 12 men and 2 women stood as candidates.<ref name="eb"/> Nine of them stood as independents.<ref name="eb"/>

===Yogendra Nath Baitha===
The by-election coincided with the lapse of a 60-day deadline that the Indian National Congress had put forth to Koda to comply with a number of demands, and the party threatened to bring down the government if unfulfilled.<ref name="ca"/> On 16 January 2008 the Indian National Congress declared that it would contest the by-election on its own.<ref name="n1"/>

Yogendra Nath Baitha had won the Simaria seat in the [[2000 Bihar Legislative Assembly election]].<ref>Election Commission of India. ''[http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_2000/STAI_REPORT_LA-BR-2000.pdf STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 2000 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF BIHAR]''</ref> He had served as the Jharkhand State Committee president of RJD.<ref>''The Telegraph''. ''[http://www.telegraphindia.com/1031001/asp/ranchi/story_2418487.asp Ranchi Diary]''</ref> But ahead of the Simaria by-poll, RJD withdrew Baitha as its candidate for the sake of UPA unity. In response Baitha broke with the party and contested the by-poll as an [[Indian National Congress]] candidate instead.<ref>''Outlook''. ''[http://www.outlookindia.com/news/article/jharkhands-political-uncertainty-continues/538197 Jharkhand's political 'uncertainty' continues]''</ref><ref>''Financial Express''. ''[http://archive.financialexpress.com/news/cong-not-consulting-upa-members-lalu/270458 Cong not consulting UPA members: Lalu] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930072517/http://archive.financialexpress.com/news/cong-not-consulting-upa-members-lalu/270458 |date=2015-09-30 }}''</ref> Baitha presented his nomination papers on 17 January 2008 in the presence of Jharkhand Congress state President [[Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu]].<ref name="t4">''The Telegraph''. ''[http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080118/jsp/jharkhand/story_8797000.jsp Parties gear up for Simaria war]''</ref> One hypothesis on why Congress decided to break UPA ranks was that it sought to use the by-election to 'test the waters' ahead of the [[2009 Jharkhand Legislative Assembly election|2009 Legislative Assembly election]].<ref name="jh">TwoCirles.net. ''[http://twocircles.net/2008feb04/jharkhands_simeria_election_sees_45_percent_polling.html Jharkhand's Simeria by-election sees 45 percent polling]''</ref> Notably, Congress leaders had expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of the Koda cabinet in terms of development and corruption.<ref name="n1"/>

Union Ministers [[Ajay Maken]] and [[Subodh Kant Sahay]] campaigned in favour of Baitha.<ref name="n2"/>

===Anjali Bhogta===
26-year old Anjali Bhogta contested the election as an independent. A key demand of her campaign was the set-up a [[NTPC Limited|NTPC]] power plant at Tandwa. Her husband had been jailed, accused of belonging to the Tritiya Prastuti Committee (a [[Naxalite]] splinter group). Bhogta herself had been a BJP member.<ref name="t2">''The Telegraph''. ''[http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080204/jsp/frontpage/story_8859832.jsp Lady with election victory key – Mum on extremism, this Independent candidate pledges the moon]''</ref> Fearing that her candidacy would draw voters from J.P.S. Bhogta, the JVM(P) actively tried to convince her to withdraw her nomination.<ref name="t2"/>

===J.P.S. Bhogta===
The [[Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik)]] candidate was Jai Prakash Singh Bhogta, a political newcomer in his late 20s.<ref name="eb"/><ref name="t3">''The Telegraph''. ''[http://www.telegraphindia.com/1141205/jsp/jharkhand/story_2137.jsp Simaria bats for young guns]''</ref> Bhogta is the son of former legislator Mahendra Bhogta.<ref name="t5">''The Telegraph''. ''[http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080122/jsp/jharkhand/story_8809406.jsp UPA allies gun for each other in Simaria]''</ref> Press reports claimed that JVM(P) would hire two helicopters to help Bhogta campaign across the constituency.<ref name="t5"/> Key JVM(P) leaders like Pradeep Yadav, Ravindra Rai, Theodore Kido and Saba Ahmad came to the constituency to campaign for Bhogta.<ref name="t5"/>

===Kumar Ujjwal Das===
On 16 January 2008 BJP declared that it would field Kumar Ujjwal Das, Upendra Nath Das' son and political newcomer, as its candidate.<ref name="tt"/><ref name="jmm">OneIndia. ''[http://www.oneindia.com/2008/01/16/jmm-to-support-cpi-candidate-in-simaria-bypoll-1200483405.html JMM to support CPI candidate in Simaria bypoll]''</ref> The party hoped to benefit sympathy wave after the death of Das.<ref name="t5"/> He was a 26-year old management graduate of [[Jadavpur University]].<ref name="t5"/> Ahead of the election Kumar Ujjwal Das faced opposition from BJP legislator [[Satyanand Bhogta]] from the nearby [[Chatra (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Chatra constituency]] who wished to field his wife as the BJP candidate instead.<ref name="tt"/>

Former Union ministers [[Yashwant Sinha]] and [[Shatrughan Sinha]], former Chief Minister [[Arjun Munda]] as well as Jharkhand BJP chief P.N. Singh campaigned for Das.<ref name="ca">OneIndia. ''[http://www.oneindia.com/2008/02/02/campaigning-ends-in-simaria-by-poll-constituency-1201937567.html Campaigning ends in Simaria by-poll constituency]''</ref><ref name="i2">''Indian Express''. ''[http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/cpi-wrests-simaria-seat-from-bjp/270426/ CPI wrests Simaria seat from BJP]''</ref>

===Meena Devi===
The [[Jharkhand Party]] candidate Meena Devi was noted for declaring the largest assets, 1,430,000 [[Indian rupees]] and two buses.<ref>OneIndia. ''[http://www.oneindia.com/2008/01/22/jharkhand-party-candidate-richest-in-simaria-by-poll-1201005432.html Jharkhand Party candidate richest in Simaria by poll]''</ref>

===Kuldeep Ganjhu===
Kuldeep Ganjhu contested the election behind bars as an independent.<ref name="t5"/> Once a [[Communist Party of India (Maoist)]] zonal commander, Ganjhu had been arrested in 2004.<ref>''The Telegraph''. ''[http://www.telegraphindia.com/1091215/jsp/jharkhand/story_11864516.jsp Rebel leader seeks road to Assembly]''</ref> Ganjhu had requested to get a [[Bahujan Samaj Party]] ticket to contest the by-election.<ref>webindia123. ''[http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/India/20080113/868381.html Maoist zonal commander to fight bypoll in J'khand]''</ref>

===Ram Chandra Ram===
CPI candidate Ram Chandra Ram had contested the Simaria seat since 1985.<ref name="tt"/> In the by-poll Ram's candidacy was backed-up by RJD, [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] (CPI(M)) and [[Jharkhand Mukti Morcha]] (JMM).<ref name="toi">''Times of India''. ''[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/CPI-prefers-to-maintain-distance-from-Congress-in-Jharkhand/articleshow/2764366.cms CPI prefers to maintain distance from Congress in Jharkhand]''</ref><ref>OneIndia. ''[http://www.oneindia.com/2008/01/14/cpi-candidate-files-nomination-for-simaria-bypoll-1200312217.html CPI candidate files nomination for Simaria bypoll]''</ref> CPI Member of Parliament [[Bhubneshwar Prasad Mehta]] declared Ram as the joint candidate of the [[United Progressive Alliance]].<ref name="tt">''The Telegraph''. ''[http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080116/jsp/jharkhand/story_8786103.jsp CPI ticket on strong wicket]''</ref>

JMM declared its support for Ram on 16 January 2008 (after RJD and CPI(M) had already pledged their support), calling for unity of UPA partners to defeat [[communalism (South Asia)|communal forces]].<ref name="jmm"/> However, the Indian National Congress (key constituent of UPA) hesitated to support Ram, seemingly wanting to field a candidate of its own instead.<ref name="jmm"/> Mehta requested Congress president [[Sonia Gandhi]] to withdraw their candidate in favour of Ram.<ref name="n2"/>

Seeking to distance itself from the Koda cabinet, CPI requested that neither Koda nor any of his ministers would campaign in favour of Ram.<ref name="t5"/> Union Railway Minister and RJD leader [[Lalu Prasad Yadav]] campaigned in favour of Ram.<ref>twocirles.net. ''[http://twocircles.net/2008feb07/cpi_wins_simeria_election_jharkhand.html CPI wins Simeria by-election in Jharkhand]''</ref>

==Security measures==
The [[Communist Party of India (Maoist)]] called for a boycott of the election.<ref name="jh"/> All 228 voting stations were declared as sensitive.<ref name="jh"/> 20 companies of paramilitary and other security forces were deployed across the constituency to ensure that the election was held.<ref name="jh"/> Authorities organized an aerial vigil on polling day.<ref name="ca"/> BJP legislator Satyanand Bhogta was put under preventive detention for some time during the election day.<ref name="jh"/>

==Voting==
Voting passed peacefully.<ref>''The Hindu''. ''[http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-otherstates/46-per-cent-voting-in-simaria-bypoll/article1193124.ece 46 per cent voting in Simaria by-poll]''</ref> Low turn-out was attributed to poll boycott and poor weather.<ref name="jh"/>

==Result==
The counting of votes and declaration of the result was done on 7 February 2008. Ram Chandra Ram was declared as winner.<ref name="eb"/> He took his oath a Member of the Legislative Assembly in [[Ranchi]] on 8 February 2008.<ref>''The Telegraph''. ''[http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080209/jsp/jharkhand/story_8881537.jsp Cong leaders firm on teaching Koda lesson]''</ref>

The result was a set-back for BJP leader Arjun Munda, as it was the fourth consecutive by-election loss for BJP in the state.<ref name="i2"/>

{{Election box begin | title=Simaria by-election, 2008}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Communist Party of India
|candidate = [[Ram Chandra Ram]]
|votes = 30,700
|percentage = 26.31%
|change = +3.15%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik)
|candidate = [[Jay Prakash Singh Bhogta]]
|votes = 23,092
|percentage = 19.79%
|change = +16.86%{{efn|Bhogta contested the 2005 election as an Independent}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Indian National Congress
|candidate = [[Yogendra Nath Baitha]]
|votes = 19,700
|percentage = 16.88%
|change = +12.13%{{efn|Compared to the INC candidate in 2005, [[Ishwari Ram Paswan]]. Baitha stood as a RJD candidate in 2005, and had obtained 16.92%}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Bharatiya Janata Party
|candidate = Kumar Ujjwal Das
|votes = 18,234
|percentage = 15.63%
|change = -14.56%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Independent politician
|candidate = Anjali Bhogta
|votes = 4,593
|percentage = 3.93%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Independent politician
|candidate = Sunil Kumar Paswan
|votes = 4,493
|percentage = 3.85%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Independent politician
|candidate = Manoj Rajak
|votes = 3,350
|percentage = 2.87%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Jharkhand Party
|candidate = Meena Devi
|votes = 2,190
|percentage = 1.87%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Independent politician
|candidate = Kuldeep Ganjhu
|votes = 2,156
|percentage = 1.84%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Independent politician
|candidate = Ramtahal Turi
|votes = 2,074
|percentage = 1.77%
|change = -1.98%{{efn|Turi stood as a JMM candidate in 2005}}
}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Independent politician
|candidate = Raj Kumar Rajak
|votes = 1,974
|percentage = 1.69%
|change = +0.8%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Independent politician
|candidate = Kailash Bhuiyan
|votes = 1,564
|percentage = 1.34%
|change =
}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Independent politician
|candidate = Tarkeshwar Ganjhu
|votes = 1,508
|percentage = 1.29%
|change =
}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Independent politician
|candidate = Gulab Ram
|votes = 1,032
|percentage = 0.88%
|change =
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 7,608
|percentage = 6.52%
|change =
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 116,660
|percentage = 48.0%
|change = +3.29%
}}
{{Election box gain with party link|
|winner = Communist Party of India
|loser = Bharatiya Janata Party
|swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

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|keywords=By-elections in India, 2008 elections in India, State Assembly elections in Jharkhand, 2000s in Jharkhand, Chatra district
|description=
}}

[[Category:By-elections in India]]
[[Category:2008 elections in India]]
[[Category:State Assembly elections in Jharkhand]]
[[Category:2000s in Jharkhand]]
[[Category:Chatra district]]

2008 Simaria by-election - Revision history

MetaBOT at 17:04, 8 July 2023