In Gujarat, ruling BJP has snatched all six seats including 2 Lok Sabha and 4 Assembly constituencies from Congress in by-election results declared today. Quoting sources, our Correspondent reports that BJP has snatched both the Lok Sabha seats from Congress with sound margin.
BJP candidate Vithal Radadia defeated his nearest rival of Congress Vinubhai Amipara by more than one lakh votes. Similarly, BJP candidate, Haribhai Chaudhari won Banaskantha Lok Sabha seat by defeating his nearest rival of Congress, Krishnaben Mukesh Kumar Gadhavi by more than 70 thousand votes.
Our Correspondent adds that BJP has also snatched 4 Assembly seats from Congress. BJP candidate Jayesh Radadia from Jetpur, former Minister of State, Kiritsinh Rana from Limdi, Pravin Makadia from Dhoraji and Nimishaben Suthar from Morva Hadafa have defeated their nearest Congress rivals.
Our correspondent adds that the result of the Gujarat bye-elections is a big setback for opposition Congress party in the state, which had conceded all its six seats to its rival ruling BJP.
On the other hand, BJP’s strong performance has also boosted the party workers ahead of Lok-Sabha elections next year. BJP’s win is also significant as it has snatched Banaskantha Lok-Sabha and Limdi and Morva-Hadaf Assembly seats which were believed to be traditional strongholds of the Congress.
Counting of votes is underway for four Lok Sabha and five Assembly by-elections in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
In Uttar Pradesh, ruling Samajwadi Party is leading in Handia Assembly by-election. Party's nominee Prashant Kumar Singh is leading by more than 8000 votes over his nearest BSP nominee Dr. Pankaj Tripathy when reports last came in.
In West Bengal, Trinamool Congress nominee Prasun Banerjee continues to maintain lead over his nearest CPI(M) rival Sridip Bhattacharya in Howrah Lok Sabha by-election. Our correspondent reports that TMC nominee is leading by 29 thousand votes over CPI(M) candidate after 12 rounds of counting.
In Bihar, Prabhunath Singh, of RJD is leading by over 78000 votes in Maharajganj Lok Sabha election over his nearest Janata Dal (United) rival P.K.Shahi.