Lok Sabha Byelection Result 2022 highlights: BJP wrests UP's Rampur, Azamgarh seats from Samajwadi Party; major setback for AAP in Punjab

SAD candidate Simranjit Singh Mann takes a lead in the first round of vote counting followed by AAP's Gurmail Singh.

Counting of votes for the byelections to the Rampur and Azamgarh Lok Sabha constituencies in Uttar Pradesh got underway amid tight security. The two constituencies voted on June 23, with Azamgarh recording a turnout of 49.43 per cent and Rampur 41.39 per cent. The bypolls were necessitated due to the resignations of Samajwadi Party (SP)chief Akhilesh Yadav and party leader Azam Khan from Azamgarh and Rampur seats respectively. In Rampur, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had fielded Ghanshyam Singh Lodhi, who recently joined the party. Asim Raja, handpicked by Azam Khan, is the SP candidate. The Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is not contesting from Rampur. The Azamgarh seat saw a triangular contest among the BJP's Dinesh Lal Yadav 'Nirhua', a Bhojpuri actor-singer, the SP's Dharmendra Yadav and the BSP's Shah Alam, also known as Guddu Jamali.

The bypoll was necessitated due to the resignation of Bhagwant Mann from the Lok Sabha after he was elected as an MLA in the state assembly elections earlier this year. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is facing its first test of popularity after its impressive performance in the assembly polls. The AAP has fielded Gurmail Singh, the party's Sangrur district in-charge. The main opposition Congress has fielded former Dhuri MLA Dalvir Singh Goldy, while the BJP has named former Barnala MLA Kewal Dhillon, who had joined the party on June 4. Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) chief Simranjit Singh Mann is also in the fray.

In Rampur, the BJP fielded Ghanshyam Singh Lodhi, who recently joined the party. Asim Raja, handpicked by Azam Khan is the SP candidate. The Mayawati-led BSP is not contesting from Rampur.

The three Lok Sabha seats are Azamgarh and Rampur in Uttar Pradesh and Sangrur in Punjab.

Counting will begin at 8 am under multi-tier security cover. At first, postal ballots will be counted and then EVMs opened.