Bhopal, Nov 2 (IANS): The BJP retained Khandwa Lok Sabha seat in Madhya Pradesh after securing a comfortable win in the bypoll with a margin of over 80,000 votes on Tuesday.

BJP's Gyaneshwar Patil defeated his nearest rival Raj Narayan Singh of the Congress.

Bypoll in Khadwa Lok Sabha seat was necessitated after the death of former BJP MP Nand Kumar Singh Chauhan due to Covid complications. Chauhan has been prominent BJP leader from the district, however, the party chose Gyaneshwar Patil instead of his son for the bypoll.

Patil had been brought into politics in 1992 by his elder brother Vishwanath Patil, who was considered close aide of Nand Kumar Singh Chauhan.

After Chauhan's death, his son Harshvardhan Singh Chauhan was denied ticket and Patil got the benefit of being a close aide of the former Lok Sabha member.

After winning the bypoll, Patil said, "People of Khadwa has shown faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nandu Bhaia (Nand Kumar Chauhan). I have been given a new responsibility and would try my best to serve for the people of Khandwa."

However, after the result was announced, Congress leaders and workers staged protest outside the counting centre accusing election officials of rigging.

"It is the death of democracy the way result was manipulated by election officials in Khadwa. How could 40,000 votes increased all of a sudden?" Congress candidate Raj Narayan Singh said.