Jind bypoll: BJP wins by nearly 13,000 votes

Ruling BJP won the high-stakes Jind bypoll in Haryana Thursday with party candidate Krishan Middha defeating his nearest rival, Digvijay Singh Chautala of Jannayak Janata Party, a breakaway outfit of INLD, by nearly 13,000 votes.

The BJP wrested the seat from the main opposition Indian National Lok Dal, which was decimated in the by-election.

Middha won by a margin of 12,935 votes, Jind Deputy Commissioner-cum-Returning Officer Amit Khatri said.

The JPP had fielded 27-year-old Digvijay Singh Chautala, the son of former Member of Parliament (MP) Ajay Singh Chautala and younger brother of Hisar MP Dushyant Chautala.

All three were expelled by Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) supremo and patriarch, Om Prakash Chautala for anti-party activities before they floated a new political party.

The Congress, which had fielded its senior leader Randeep Singh Surjewala, sitting MLA from Kaithal, ended up at the third spot.

Talking to reporters earlier in Chandigarh, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar predicted his party's victory, saying the people would give their mandate in favour of "the BJP's transparent policies and all round development of the state."