MJ Akbar wins Rajya Sabha bypoll from Jharkhand

BJP's national spokesman MJ Akbar on Thursday won the Rajya Sabha bypoll from Jharkhand, defeating Haji Hussain Ansari of the JMM by 19 votes.

"Seventy-eight out of a total 80 voters cast their votes. One vote was found invalid, leaving a total of 77 votes," Returning officer Sushil Kumar Singh told PTI.

"MJ Akbar who got 48 votes was declared winner while Haji Hussain Ansari got 29 votes," he said. The 82-member House has one vacant seat and a nominated MLA who doesn't have the voting right.

Two MLAs, Anosh Ekka of Jharkhand Party and Nav Jawan Sangharsh Morcha legislator Bhanu Pratap Singh, did not exercise their franchise, Assembly secretariat officials said.

The bypoll was necessitated following the resignation of KD Singh after he joined Trinamool Congress. He had won with the backing of JMM. The term will expire next year.