Bypoll results: Congress wrests 3 Assembly seats from BJP in Gujarat

GANDHINAGAR: The Gujarat bypoll results have jolted BJP as Congress snatched three assembly seats from the ruling party. While Congress registered victories in Mangrol and Khambalia in the Saurashtra region and in Deesa in North Gujarat, BJP won six assembly seats. BJP, predictably, won Vadodara Lok Sabha seat by over 3,00,000 votes.

The bypoll was touted as the first acid test for Narendra Modi’s successor in the state, Anandiben Patel, and she had admitted the same at a public meeting in Deesa earlier. She had also wished to win all the seats as a birthday gift to PM Modi.

Sounding upbeat, a Congress worker said: “It feels good to hear people say congratulations to us after a long time. This sounds even better because Modi is in town along with Shah.” State BJP general secretary Vijay Rupani said BJP in Gujarat continued to have its sway over the voters. “The influence of Modi and Anandiben continues over Gujarat as before,” Rupani told ET.