The ruling Shiromani Akali Dal candidate Joginerpal Jain on Thursday wrested the Moga Assembly seat defeating his nearest Congress rival by 18,845 votes.

Counting of votes for the by-election to Moga Assembly seat in Punjab will be held on Thursday amid tight security.

The defeat of the Congress in the Moga by-poll has triggered a blame game within the party's state unit with two senior leaders Randeep Singh Nabha and Brahm Mohindra locking horns with PCC chief Amarinder Singh for issuing show cause notices to them.

Over 70 percent of the eligible voters cast their ballots on Saturday in the by-election to Moga Assembly constituency in Punjab, where the main fight is between the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal and main opposition Congress.

Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh on Wednesday sought deployment of central security forces at Moga for the entire by-election period beginning from the filing of the nominations right up to the day of counting.

On the penultimate day of campaigning for the February 23 Moga by-poll, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Wednesday claimed that imminent defeat stares the opposition Congress in the face.

On the last day of campaigning for Moga assembly by-poll, Punjab Congress Chief Amarinder Singh on Thursday said that party candidate would register a convincing victory from the seat, causing a major setback to ruling SAD.

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday said that Moga will play a decisive role in ushering a political change in the state.

Numerous followers of Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda and Dera Beas are likely to play a significant role in the outcome of the February 23 bypoll in Moga.

Taking a dig at Congress, SAD president and Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab Sukhbir Singh Badal on Sunday said the party will be forced to hold a 'shok shivir' after its 'chintan shivir', as the SAD-BJP alliance is all set to register a historic win in the Moga by-poll.