All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) candidate Mohammad Murshid Alam has clinched a strong victory in Bihar’s Jokihat assembly constituency, securing 83,737 votes to defeat Janata Dal (United) rival Manzar Alam’s 54,934 by a margin of 28,803 votes. This win, declared on November 14 amid the NDA’s statewide triumph (210+ seats), bolsters AIMIM’s breakthrough in the Muslim-majority Seemanchal region, where the party now eyes up to six seats, outpacing Congress’ four.
Jokihat, a general seat in Araria district with 70.92% voter turnout on November 11 (second phase), has been a hotspot for minority politics. Alam’s success flips a 2020 AIMIM hold (Shahnawaz by 7,383 over RJD) and challenges NDA’s consolidation, with RJD’s Shahnawaz and Jan Suraaj’s Sarfaraz Alam trailing in third and fourth.
A Tense Contest Turns Decisive: Alam’s Momentum Builds
Early postal ballots gave JD(U) a slim edge (4,576 votes), but AIMIM surged in EVM rounds, leading by 5,984 after 10 rounds and 22,707 by the 20th. Alam’s appeal among 65% Muslim voters, fueled by Asaduddin Owaisi’s anti-NDA campaigns, sealed the deal against Manzar’s NDA-backed development pitch.
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mohammad Murshid Alam | AIMIM | 83,737 | Winner (+28,803) |
| Manzar Alam | JD(U) | 54,934 | Runner-up |
| Shahnawaz | RJD | ~15,000 (est.) | Third |
| Sarfaraz Alam | Jan Suraaj | Trailing | Fourth |
Final ECI tally; total valid votes: ~1.58 lakh. Check results.eci.gov.in for updates.
AIMIM’s gains, including Kochadhaman (23,021 margin), highlight vote fragmentation aiding NDA elsewhere. Owaisi called it a “mandate for justice,” while JD(U) eyes a late recovery. NDA celebrates Nitish Kumar’s fifth term; opposition alleges SIR “rigging.”
