Azamgarh Lok Sabha Bypolls Results Highlights: BJP's Dinesh Lal Yadav wins by 8,679 votes

The counting of votes has ended, n Azamgarh, an SP bastion, BJP candidate Dinesh Lal Yadav 'Nirahua' won against his nearest rival, Dharmendra Yadav of the Akhilesh Yadav-led party.

In Azamgarh, BJP candidate Dinesh Lal Yadav ‘Nirahua’ has gained a lead over SP candidate Dharmendra Yadav. On the other hand, BJP candidate Ghanshyam Lodhi has edged past his SP rival Asim Raza in Rampur.

However, Samajwadi Party candidate Dharmendra Pradhan predicted his party will pull of a historic win in Azamgarh. “The people of Azamgarh have always supported me. Since the counting is running late, we want to inform the party workers about the actual situation. Samajwadi Party is leading. This will be a historic win for us,” he said.

BYPOLL RESULTS LIVE COVERAGE

The bypoll in the Azamgarh was necessitated after the resignation of incumbent MP and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, who resigned after being elected as an MLA from Karhal. The seat is witnessing a triangular contest between Samajwadi Party's Dharmendra Yadav, Bhojpuri actor Dinesh Lal Yadav ‘Nirahua’ of the BJP and Bahujan Samaj Party candidate Shah Alam alias Guddu Jamali.

Here are the top updates on the counting in the two Lok Sabha seats:

> Azamgarh Lok Sabha seat- BJP candidate Dinesh Lal Yadav 'Nirahua' won against his nearest rival, Dharmendra Yadav of the Akhilesh Yadav-led party.

> Rampur Lok Sabha seat- BJP candidate Ghanshyam Lodhi wins Rampur from the Samajwadi Party, defeating his nearest rival by over 42,000 votes.

> Azamgarh Lok Sabha seat- BJP candidate Dinesh Lal Yadav Nirahua leads by 13,121 votes over his nearest rival Dharmendra Yadav of SP.

> Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav arrives at party state unit office in Lucknow

> At 12.15 pm BJP leads on both Lok Sabha seats- Azamgarh and Rampur.

> SP candidate Asim Raza- 2,13,361 votes, BJP candidate Ghanshyam Lodhi- 2,06, 299 votes.

> Azamgarh: BJP regains lead over SP in Akhilesh bastion.

> Azamgarh: SP candidate Dharmendra Yadav- 74,461 votes, BJP candidate Dinesh Lal Yadav- 67,979 votes, BSP candidate- Shah Alam Guddu Jamali- 62,801 votes.

> Rampur: SP candidate Asim Raza- 1,54,256 votes, BJP candidate Ghanshyam Lodhi- 1,43, 221 votes.

> In Rampur, SP candidate Asim Raza (1,13,962 votes) leads over BJP candidate Ghanshyam Lodhi (1,06, 990 votes).

> SP candidate Dharmendra Yadav leaves counting centre, says party will win Azamgarh with a comfortable margin.

> SP candidate Dharmendra Yadav regains lead over BJP's Dinesh Lal Yadav ‘Nirahua’ in Azamgarh.

> As per trends at 10:20 am, SP candidate Asim Raza (72,079 votes) leads over BJP candidate Ghanshyam Lodhi (62, 092 votes) in Rampur.

> Asim Raza of SP again takes lead over BJP candidate Ghanshyam Lodhi on Rampur Lok Sabha seat.

> In Rampur Lok Sabha seat, BJP candidate Ghanshyam Lodhi takes lead over SP candidate Asim Raza by 500 votes in the second round.

> Azamgarh: In the third round BJP candidate takes lead of around 1000 vote over SP candidate.

> Samajwadi Party candidate Asim Raza leads from Rampur Lok Sabha seat over his nearest rival Ghanshyam Lodhi of BJP by 800 votes after first round of counting.

> Samajwadi Party candidate Dharmendra Yadav leads over BJP's Dinesh Lal Yadav ‘Nirahua’ after second round of counting.

> Counting in Azamgarh and Rampur Lok Sabha seats begins.