Bypoll Results: Congress' Sunil Jakhar wins Gurdaspur Lok Sabha by 1,93,219 votes; UDF retains Vengara by 23,310 votes

IUML candidate KNA Khader was elected to the Kerala assembly from the Vengara constituency, while Congress candidate Sunil Jakhar is leading Punjab's Gurdaspur by over one lakh votes.

Congress' Sunil Jakhar (left) and UDF's KNA Khader (right). (File Photo | Facebook Photo)

Congress candidate Sunil Jakhar won the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll by 1,93,219 votes. According to a poll official, Jakhar defeated BJP nominee Swaran Salaria.

Jakhar polled 4,99,752 votes while Salaria polled 3,06,533, the poll official said.

The Congress won this seat after the 2009 Lok Sabha poll when Congress candidate Partap Singh Bajwa won this seat by defeating BJP candidate Vinod Khanna.

Jakhar, who is leading in all nine assembly constituencies after the completion of 12 rounds of counting
of votes, thanked voters and the party for the massive lead.

READ | Gurdaspur bypoll: BJP-SAD, AAP accuses Congress of 'using undemocratic means' to win

"With this victory, people have reaffirmed faith in the leadership of Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and at the same time," said elated Jakhar. "This is a victory for the Congress and Capt Amarinder
Singh," he said.

Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar with State Cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu and other party leaders showing his victory certificate after winning the Gurdaspur parliamentary

bypoll on Sunday. (PTI)" />

READ | BJP must read writing on wall after Gurdaspur defeat: Sunil Jakhar

Meanwhile, Indian Union of Muslim's League (IUML) candidate KNA Khader was elected to the Kerala assembly from the Vengara constituency today.

Vengara, a traditional UDF stronghold, witnessed the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) making political advancement in the constituency by increasing their vote share to 41,917 from 34124 in 2016. While UDF's PK Kunhalikkutty had managed to bag 72181 votes last year, Khader was limited to 65,227 votes in the bypoll.

UDF workers celebrating their victory in Vengara bypoll.
(Express Photo | A Sanesh)

CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan responded that the increased vote share of the LDF in the constituency is the response of the people to the good performance of the state government. PP Basheer of the left was able to improve his performance by getting 41,917 votes against 34124 in 2016.

Though the victory of KN Khader was on predictable lines, but what has surprised the pundits is the emergence of Muslim hardline party SDPI, which ended in the third place pushing BJP candidate into the fourth spot.

K Janachandran of the BJP could only manage 5728 votes while SDPI's KC Naseer got 8648.

The sitting MLA of Vengara PK Kunhalikkutty contested and won from the Malappuram Parliament constituency following the demise of E Ahamed earlier this year - paving way for a by-election.

Similarly, fresh polls were announced in Punjab's Gurdaspur following the death of actor-turned BJP MP Vinod Khanna in April this year.

The AAP has fielded Major General (retd) Suresh Khajuria, who is currently third.

For six assembly constituencies of Gurdaspur district, counting centre has been set up at Sukhjindra College Gurdaspur and for three assembly constituencies of Pathankot district, counting centre has been set up at the SD College in Pathankot.

Tight security arrangements have been made at the counting centres, an official said.

(With inputs from ENS, PTI)