NEW DELHI, FEB 24: The Congress received its second boost in three months when it won eight out of the 11 Assembly seats for which bye-elections were held yesterday. The Congress won all the four seats in Rajasthan, two in Delhi and one each in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat but lost two to BJP and one to Mizo National Front. Congress Chief Minister in Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot, won by over 49,800 votes, the largest margin in the state. The party's tally here too has reached an unprecedented figure. In effect, the party has three-fourths majority in the two northern states, a first in the country's electoral history.The results indicated continuing voter disenchantment with incumbent governments, adversely affecting the BJP's fortunes, and the Congress was quick to thank party president Sonia Gandhi and the voters for its success.
In Delhi, the Congress fortified its dominance in the 70-member Delhi Assembly. The prestigious Hauz Khas seat, vacated by BJP Mp Sushma Swaraj, was an easy win for Congresscandidate Kiran Walia who defeated her BJP rival Harishankar Gautam by a 3,625 margin. With this the strength of the Congress in the Delhi Assembly goes up to an unshakeable 53 with the BJP's tally reduced to 14.
The results were more even in Madhya Pradesh, where the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP bagged one seat each. In Mizoram, the MNF gained absolute majority when its nominee K Vanlalauva defeated Congress' B Zaliana by 2,345 votes in Khawbung .
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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