As the fifth round comes to an end, BJP is leading with 21052 votes, overpowering its nearest rival Jannayak Janata Party which has 15315 votes, as per early trends available for the high-stakes Jind bypoll in Haryana.
The high-stakes Jind bypoll, which saw a voter turnout of 75.77 per cent, was necessitated following the death of INLD legislator Hari Chand Midha last year. Jind witnessed a multi-cornered contest involving the BJP, which fielded Middh’a son Krishan Middha, INLD, which nominated local Jat leader Umedh Singh Redhu and Congress, represented by Randeep Singh Surjewala.
The bypoll is also important for the newly-floated Jannayak Janata Party (JJP), which was formed after a split in the main opposition INLD.
The by-election was necessitated following the death of INLD MLA Hari Chan Middha, whose son Krishan Middha recently joined the BJP and contested as the saffron party's candidate for the bypoll.Hari Chand Middha had represented Jind twice.
The Congress fielded its senior leader and sitting MLA from Kaithal constituency Randeep Singh Surjewala. The INLD banked on Umed Singh Redhu to retain the seat.
The JJP put its weight behind Digvijay Singh Chautala, the younger son of jailed leader Ajay Singh Chautala, who broke away from the INLD and floated the party last month.
Loktantra Suraksha Party (LSP), which is led by BJP's rebel MP Raj Kumar Saini, had also entered the fray and fielded its candidate.
The bypoll was held just months ahead of the Lok Sabha and assembly elections in Haryana making it even more important.
Arch rivals BJP, Congress, INLD and JJP are eyeing the results as a self-assessment exercise ahead of Lok Sabha polls this year.
The high-stake election is considered a referendum on the Manohar Lal Khattar government and also a semi-final ahead of Lok Sabha elections.
(PTI)
