In this bypoll, which followed the death of incumbent legislator from Harlakhi constituency, Basant Kushwaha, he defeated Mohammad Shabbir of Indian National Congress.

Shekhar is the son of Rashtriya Lok Samata Party politician Basant Kushwaha.

The premature death of Kushwaha ensued a sympathy wave in the constituency, which resulted in Shekhar defeating his father's political rival Shabbir by a margin of over 18,000 votes.

The three legislators from the state's bicameral legislature, Lalan Paswan, Sanjeev Shyam Singh and Shekhar himself, declared themselves to be the real RLSP and caused a fraction within the party accusing Upendra Kushwaha of serving his own interest.

He defeated Ram Naresh Pandey of Communist Party of India and retained the seat, becoming the MLA for the second time.