Congress wins Kolebira seat after 15 years

KOLEBIRA: After 15 years, Congress won the Kolebira(ST) Assembly bypoll in Jharkhand on Sunday with its candidate, Naman Bixal Kongari, defeating his BJP rival by 9,658 votes.nnThe Congress nominee secured 40,343 votes while Basant Soreng of the saffron party polled 30,685 votes, an Election Commission release said.nnBypoll in Kolebira for vidhan sabha (legislative assembly) is being held for the second time in 33 years. Bypolls were held in 1984 after the death of the then sitting MLA Sushil Kumar Baghe. Jharkhand Party’s Veersingh Munda had emerged victorious in the 1984 bypolls.nnWith this victory, the Congress will increase its tally to eight in the 82-member House.nnThe bypoll was necessitated after Enos Ekka of Jharkhand Party, who represented the constituency in the Assembly, lost his membership following his conviction in a murder case.nnOthers who were in the fray were Menan Ekka of Jharkhand Party, Anil Kandulna of Sengel Party and an independent candidate, Basant Dungdung.nnThe Jharkhand Mukti Morcha had announced support to Menan Ekka of Jharkhand Party while Babulal Marandis Jharkhand Vikas Morcha had supported the Congress candidate.nnWith Press Trust of India inputs