Bypolls: Cong 9, BJP 5, Mufti enters JK Assembly Saturday, October 16 2004 12:01 Hrs (IST)
New Delhi:
Congress romped home in nine Assembly constituencies and BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) five while Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed won the prestigious Pahalgam seat as results started pouring in for bypolls held in 16 States.
Congress bagged three Assembly seats in Gujarat, two in Punjab and one each in Rajasthan, Nagaland, Manipur and Andhra Pradesh.
Its arch-rival BJP emerged triumphant in two seats in Gujarat and one each in Goa, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan out of 16 Assembly bypoll results available till noon.
The remaining two seats were shared by ruling PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) in Jammu and Kashmir and MIM (Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen) in Andhra Pradesh.
PDP patron Sayeed humbled his National Conference rival Rafi Mir in Pahalgam to enter the State Assembly after a gap of 17 years.
Ruling BJP and Opposition Congress shared a seat apiece in Rajasthan Assembly bypolls.
BJP wrested Behrod seat from Congress which snatched Merta seat from the saffron party.