However, with the defeat of BJP's candidate Prakash Pant, the strength of the saffron party has been reduced to 30 in the House where three independents, three of BSP and one lone member of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) are supporting the ruling Congress.
"The victory of Congress in Sitarganj will strengthen the position of Bahuguna immensely in the hill state as the main opposition BJP has been given a severe drubbing by voters," said Suryakant Dhasmana, state Congress vice president.
The election results on March 6 had given a fractured mandate in Uttarakhand with Congress winning 32 seats followed closely by BJP with 31 seats.
But after the results, all the 7 non-BJP MLAs supported the Congress in government formation with the high command bringing in Bahuguna to head the state.
In May, BJP MLA Kiran Mandal resigned from Sitarganj to facilitate his election from the area and "for the sake of development of his constituency".
Congress sources said "Mandal would now get a red-beacon fitted car", a sign of ministerial-level post in the hill state.
With today's victory, Bahuguna is likely to increase his hold on the ruling Congress vis-