BJP wins Malehra assembly by-poll

Bhopal, Nov 2 (UNI) Dashing hopes of Bharatiya Jan Shakti President Uma Bharti, the BJP retained Malehra seat, with BJP candidate Kapoor Chand Ghuwara defeating his nearest BJS rival Rekha Yadav by about 3,000 votes in a 22-cornered contest in the assembly by-election.

In the first electoral contest between BJP and BJS having similar ideologies, the by-election, caused by Ms Bharti's resignation, was closesly fought.

It was a major upset for Ms Bharti, who had won from Malehra on BJP ticket during December 2003 elections defeating her nearest Congress rival Jagdish Shukla by over 31,000 votes.

In this by-election, Mr Shukla was relegated to the third spot.

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