Lok Sabha and Assembly by-polls: Definite boost for Narendra Modi after win, Nitish Kumar gives Lalu hope for a comeback

Early trends show that the ruling BJP is leading in all the six seats -- two Lok Sabha and four assembly -- which were previously occupied by the Congress party in the by-elections held in Gujarat.

Meanwhile, Lalu Prasad's RJD is surging ahead in the Maharajganj Lok Sabha bypoll with its candidate Prabhunath Singh leading by over 27,000 votes over his JD(U) rival at the end of the fourth round of counting.

Lalu told reporters in Patna that the Maharajganj bypoll result would trigger the beginning of fall of the Nitish Kumar government.

Whereas in the Howrah Lok Sabha, Trinamool Congress is surging aheadin West Bengal with its candidate Prasun Banerjee leading over its nearest CPI(M) rival by 22,924 votes.

Counting of votes had begun for four Lok Sabha and five Assembly by-elections spread over Bihar, West Bengal, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.

Polling for these seats was held on Sunday

By-election to Maharajganj Lok Sabha seat in Bihar was necessitated after the death of RJD MP Uma Shankar Singh earlier this year

By-election to Howrah Lok Sabha seat in West Bengal assumes significance as it comes in the aftermath of chit fund scam and also ahead of Panchayat elections in the state

In Gujarat, two Lok Sabha and four Assembly constituencies went to polls. While Lok Sabha seats are Banaskantha and Porbandar, the Assembly constituencies are Limdi, Morva-Hadaf, Jetpur and Dhoraji

In Uttar Pradesh, counting of votes has begun for Handia Assembly seat in Allahabad district and the result is expected by this afternoon.