Jaipur (Rajasthan): Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said the victory in Ramgarh bypoll seat will encourage the party ahead of Lok Sabh elections.  Gehlot expressed happiness over people taking “a well mediated step” and ensuring a Congress win.

He thanked and expressed his gratitude to the people and said they have sent out a message at a time when it was much needed.

Congress candidate Shafia Zubair won the Ramgarh assembly poll in Rajasthan by defeating her nearest BJP rival Sukhwant Singh by a margin of 12,228 votes.  With this, Congress's tally has risen to 100 in the 200-member Rajasthan assembly. Congress has the support of one RLD MLA.

Zubair got 44.77 per cent votes by securing 83,311 votes while Singh secured 71,083 votes, the officials of the Rajasthan election department reportedly said.

BSP candidate and former union minister Natwar Singh's Son, Jagat Singh, was on third spot. He secured 24,856 votes, they said.

In total, 20 candidates contested the Ramgarh election on January 28.

The election was necessitated due to the death of the BSP candidate ahead of December 7 Rajasthan elections.