Congress leader Sunil Jakhar wins Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll by huge margin

CHANDIGARH: Congress leader

Sunil Jakhar

has won the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll by 1,93,219 votes. Polling for the election necessitated by the demise of BJP leader and sitting MP from

Gurdaspur Vinod Khanna

was held on October 11.

Congress leader Sunil Jakhar taking certificate of election issued by the returning officer

Though the election began in form of a triangular fight between Jakhar, Swarn Salaria of SAD-BJP and AAP’s Maj Gen (Retd) Suresh Khajuria, Congress gained ground by putting up a united face. SAD suffered a big setback when its key leader

Sucha Singh Langah

was booked in a rape case. AAP’s campaign failed to gather steam.


Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, who had endorsed Jakhar’s nomination for the party ticket, has already posted a series of tweets expecting a win going by the trends. “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”


“Congratulations to Sunil Jakhar ji for his impressive win in Gurdaspur bypoll, it's a victory for @INCPunjab policies & development agenda. Assure people of #Gurdaspur that every single promise made by @sunilkjakhar will be fulfilled and all development works will be fast-tracked,” added Amarinder.

• Also read | Gurdaspur bypoll: Amarinder hails 'unprecedented' Congress win

Jakhar has been leading ever since counting began at 8 am and AAP has been trailing at the third position. Taking to mediapersons, AAP candidate Khajuria alleged that official machinery was misused by the ruling party.

Even though relatively less 56% polling was registered for the bypoll, Congress has managed to repeat its performance in the recently held assembly elections when it had won seven out of the nine assembly segments in Gurdaspur parliamentary constituency.