Congress wrests Shahkot assembly seat in Punjab from SAD
May 31, 2018  15:33
Punjab's ruling Congress candidate Hardev Singh Ladi today wrested the Shahkot assembly seat from the Shiromani Akali Dal, defeating the party's nominee Naib Singh Kohar with a margin of 38,801 votes, an election office spokesperson said.
Ladi got 82,745 votes while Akali candidate Kohar polled 43,944 votes in the May 28 bypoll, the spokesperson said. 
The seat was considered the SAD's borough with the late Ajit Singh Kohar, Naib Singh's father, being elected from there five times.
With this victory, the Congress's strength in the 117-member Punjab Vidhan Sabha will reach 78, a two-third majority in the House.

Aam Aadmi Party candidate Rattan Singh Kakkar Kalan polled just 1,900 votes.
Ladi maintained a lead from the start of the counting process for the bypoll, being seen as a barometer for the popularity of the 14-month Congress government of Amarinder Singh. 
While the Congress celebrated, Kohar alleged that the EVMs were rigged.
"EVMs were tampered. The counting took place before me, but if the machines are not right then what will counting do? There was not a single booth from where I gained,"  he alleged.

-- PTI
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