Gurdaspur, October 15: Congress bulldozed BJP with a massive margin of 1,93,219 votes in Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll, the result of which was declared on Sunday.
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
Congress candidate Sunil Jakhar, who is also the president of the Punjab Congress, polled 4,99,752 votes whereas his nearest rival Swaran Salaria of BJP-SAD combine got 3,06,553 votes. The AAP candidate Maj Gen (retd) Suresh Khajuria lost his security deposit. He polled only 23,579 votes.
.@sunilkjakhar on way to create history as @INCIndia won this seat with just over 1 lakh votes in 1991. Thereafter margin never crossed 75k
— RaveenMediaAdvPunCM (@RT_MediaAdvPbCM) October 15, 2017
The bypoll was necessitated by demise of the sitting BJP MP Vinod Khanna, who had won this seat four times since 1998.
The victory further consolidates position of Captain Amarinder Singh as the torchbearer of the Congress in Punjab. This victory is also being perceived as a big boost to Congress straining to rejuvenate electorally at the national level.
Also read: United front as Capt Amarinder leads Gurdaspur roadshow on last day of campaigning
It also took wind out of the BJP-SAD charge of an ‘outsider’ hurled repeatedly against Jakhar during the entire poll campaign. He was a surprise loser Abohar constituency during Punjab Assembly election held early this year. This victory means his electoral rehabilitation.
But it also brings along a challenge to him to live up to expectations of Gurdaspur voters, who have decisively shunned BJP this time.
