State by-poll: BJP retains Surat West seat

Ruling BJP today retained the Surat West Assembly constituency, where a by-poll was held, defeating the Congress by an overwhelming margin. Purnesh Modi of BJP trounced his Congress rival D L Patel by more than 66,000 votes.

Purnesh Modi, who is also Surat city BJP President, bagged 86,061 votes, while Patel, a prominent local leader of Koli Patel community, could garner only 19,769, district election officials said.

"The counting is over. Purnesh Modi of BJP has been declared winner by a margin of 66,292 votes over his nearest (Congress) rival," Chief District Election Officer and Surat Collector Jayprakash Shivhare said.

The by-poll was necessitated due to the death of sitting BJP MLA Kishore Vankawala, who won in December 2012 Assembly election.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Purnesh Modi on his victory.

"Congratulations to Purnesh Modi and BJP karyakartas for grand victory in Surat West by-election. Thanks to voters of Surat," Modi said on microblogging site Twitter.