Rahul Gandhi's 'Diwali present': Congress routs BJP in Gurdaspur bypoll
The Congress won big in a bypoll in Punjab's Gurdaspur, months after the death of the constituency's BJP MP - the actor Vinod Khanna.
The Congress' Sunil Jakhar defeated the BJP's Swaran Salaria by an imposing margin of 1,93,219 votes today to become the Lok Sabha MP-elect from Gurdaspur in Punjab.
Wd grateful heart I thank people of Gurdaspur for their support and love. My humble gratitude to @capt_amarinder Ji for his faith & guidance- Sunil Jakhar (@sunilkjakhar) October 15, 2017
Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu called the win a "beautiful Diwali gift, packed with a red ribbon" for Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi.
Congratulations to Shri @sunilkjakhar ji Gurdaspur victory is a Diwali Gift ??? for RAHUL BHAI @OfficeOfRG @INCIndia pic.twitter.com/f9ZCIdRiDO- Navjot S Sidhu Team (@Sherryontopp2) October 15, 2017
ANI video posted by @Sherryontopp/Twitter
The Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat has been vacant since BJP MP Vinod Khanna died in April. The veteran actor was elected four times from the constituency.
Sunil Jakhar polled over 4.99 lakh votes, and was in the lead right from the time counting began. Congress leaders and workers began celebrating even before the final result was announced.
Congratulations to @sunilkjakhar and @INCPunjab workers for their win in #GurdaspurByPoll.- Congress (@INCIndia) October 15, 2017
For Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, Jakhar's win "shows the people's complete denunciation of the corrupt and immoral BJP and SAD." The SAD, or Shiromani Akali Dal, is the BJP's ally in Punjab.
So its 1,93,219..! Not much behind my expectation of a 2 lakh victory margin for @sunilkjakhar ji. What a vindication of our policies!- Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) October 15, 2017
Singh suggested that today's triumph would be followed by others.
The #Gurdaspur by-election marks another major step in the revival of @INCIndia, it's clear that party is on upswing ahead of 2019 LS polls- Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) October 15, 2017
The BJP's candidate, Swaran Salaria, polled 3.06 lakh votes
Another contender, the Aam Aadmi Party's Major General Suresh Kumar Khajuria (retired), accused the Congress of rigging the voting. He had won just 24,000 votes.
There are 15.22 lakh registered voters in Gurdaspur. Almost 56 per cent of them voted, far fewer than the 70 per cent who cast their vote in the 2014 parliamentary elections.
WATCH | Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll: Congress' Sunil Jakhar wins seat by 1.93 lakh margin