Bhopal, Oct 24 (TIWN) The Congress candidate has extended his lead to 9,000 votes over his nearest BJP rival in the Jhabua Assembly constituency bypoll in Madhya Pradesh, poll officials said on Thursday.

Election Commission officials said that Congress'' Kantilal Bhuria (40,084 votes) emerged further ahead of BJP''s Bhanu Bhuria (31,135 votes) after the 10th round of counting.

There was excitement in the Congress camp as its candidate surged ahead of his BJP contender.

The officials said the counting would be completed in 26 rounds.