BJP today retained the Garoth Assembly seat in Madhya Pradesh’s Mandsaur district, though with a reduced margin as compared to the 2013 elections.
The by-election at the seat was necessitated due to the death of BJP MLA Rajesh Yadav following illness.
BJP candidate Chander Singh Sisodia won the bypoll by defeating Congress’ Subhash Kumar Sojatia with a margin of 12,945 votes, an election officer said.
The BJP had won the seat in 2013 Assembly election by a margin of 25,755 votes, he said.
A total of 1,55,934 voters exercised their franchise in the bypoll. In the 2013 election, 1,63,892 votes were cast.
Eight candidates were in fray for the bypoll, but the primary contest was between BJP’s Sisodia and Congress nominee Sojatia.