Mandi poll counting: Cong candidate takes unassailable lead

Congress candidate Pratibha Singh today established an unassailable lead of about 1,10,436 votes over her nearest BJP rival Jai Ram Thakur as counting of votes started for Mandi Lok Sabha by-election.

Polling was held on June 23.

Singh has polled 2,78,758 votes as against 1,68,322 votes for Thakur and was leading by 1,10,436 votes when reports last came.

The poll results are likely to be declared by noon.

The by-poll was necessitated after Virbhadra Singh was elected to the Himachal Pradesh Assembly in December last year.