In a setback for the Samajwadi, BJP candidate Ghanshyam Singh Lodhi won the Rampur Lok Sabha by-elections by defeating SP nominee Asim Raja by a margin of over 42,000 votes.
Lodhi got over 3.67 lakh votes whereas Asim Raja scored around 3.23 lakh votes.
The by-election in the Rampur Lok Sabha seat was necessitated following the resignation of Azam Khan after his election to UP Vidhan Sabha from Rampur Sadar.
Raja is a long-time associate of senior SP leader Azam Khan.