Ranchi, Dec 23 (IANS): Former Deputy Chief Minister and All Jharkhand Students Union Party (AJSU) President Sudesh Kumar Mahto won the Silli assembly seat by 20,000 votes.

Mahto defeated JMM candidate Seema Devi by nearly 20,000 votes. Mahtao secured 81,533 votes and Seema Devi managed to get 61,544 votes. Mahto's party is leading in three seats, including Silli.

Incumbent Seema Devi won the seat in 2018 after her husband and then sitting MLA Amit Mahto faced disqualification from the Jharkhand Assembly following his conviction in a criminal case by a Ranchi court.

The 40-year-old MLA was awarded two years' imprisonment in the case. Amit was held guilty under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in a 12-year-old case pertaining to the assault on former Sonahatu circle officer Alok Kumar.

Sudesh had lost to Amit in 2014 Assembly polls and the subsequent by-election to JMM candidates Amit Mahto and his wife Seema Mahto, respectively. Sudesh Mahto held the fort since 2000, but lost to Amit Mahto in 2014 Assembly polls by 29,740 votes.

The BJP had not fielded its candidate in Silli as the AJSU was their alliance partner. But this time, both the parties are fighting on their own due to differences.

The Congress, too, had not fielded any candidate from the constituency as they have an alliance with the JMM.

A total of 15 candidates, including four independents, contested the election from the seat.

Silli is part of the Ranchi Lok Sabha constituency.