MP Bypolls: BJP Retains Dewas Assembly Seat

24 November, Bhopal

Madhya Pradesh’s ruling BJP has retained the Dewas assembly seat with candidate Gayatri Raje Puar beating her Congress rival by a margin of over 25,000 votes.

Gaining lead in initial rounds of counting that began at 0800 hrs, Ms Puar was ahead by 12,000 votes at the end of eighth round of counting.

The by-election was necessitated by the demise of Ms Puar’s husband and BJP legislator Tukoji Rao Puar. BJP and Congress candidates were locked in a direct contest though The Imperial Party of India candidate Sunny Singh Kanwar and the Samajwadi Partys Haji Hatam Bhai were also in the fray.

Polling was held in the constituency on November 21. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had led the offensive for the BJP while state Congress chief Arun Yadav had led the charge for his party.