Shivraj Singh Chouhan thanks people for support in MP bypolls

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday thanked people for their support following BJP's strong performance in the bypolls.

Bhopal, Nov 22: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday thanked people for their support following BJP's strong performance in the bypolls.

The BJP today retained Shahdol Lok Sabha and Nepanagar Assembly seats in the by-elections in Madhya Pradesh. The BJP defeated the Congress which had brought to the campaign the demonetisation issue alongwith local themes against the ruling party.

In Shahdol, BJP's Gyan Singh defeated Himadri Singh of Congress by a comfortable margin of over 60,000 votes, belying the latter's hopes of wresting the seat to add to the party's tally in the Lok Sabha.

Gyan Singh bagged 4,81,398 votes while his Congress rival polled 4,21,015 votes.

The BJP also defended the Nepanagar Assembly seat where its contestant Manju Dadu trounced nearest Congress rival Antar Singh Barde by a margin of 42,198 votes.

The ruling party sharply increased its winning margin in Nepanagar to 42,198 votes as against 22,178 in the 2013 Assembly polls.

Congress had seized on the currency scrapping issue which came by its way in the midst of the campaign, claiming that it had caused serious inconvenience to the people even in tribal-dominated areas.

BJP leaders, however, exuded confidence of retaining both the ST seats, arguing that the demonetisation of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes would not affect the party's prospects.

(With PTI inputs)