In a big shock to the ruling BJP government it suffered shocking loses in the bypolls only winning 1 of the 6 seats available.
The Congress sprung a surprise victory in Himachal Pradesh , wresting two BJP seats in the state and one in Karnataka as votes were counted for 29 assembly seats and three Lok Sabha seats.
In Himachal Pradesh, the Congress retained Fatehpur and Arki and posted a win in Jubbal-Kotkhai — thanks to the infighting and miscalculation by the BJP. It also bagged the Lok Sabha seat of Mandi.
Senior Congress leader Randeep Surjewala tweeted: “BJP has lost 2 out of 3 Lok Sabha seats. In Assemblies, BJP has lost at most places in direct contest with INC. HP, Raj., Karnataka & Maharashtra have witnessed it. Modi ji, Shed arrogance! Repeal 3 Black Laws! Stop Petrol-Diesel-Gas Loot! Disdain for people’s pain is harmful”.
“Every victory for the Congress is a victory of our party worker. Keep fighting hate. No fear!” tweeted Congress’s Rahul Gandhi.
While traditionally, the party in power in a state wins the by-polls, the Congress managed to retain Fatehpur and Arki in Himachal Pradesh. Off the record, state leaders attributed it to anti-incumbency, petrol price rise and unemployment.
The farm protests cast a shadow on the BJP’s performance in Rajasthan. Its former ally, Hanuman Beniwal-led Rashtriya Loktantrik Party’s candidate, emerged the runner-up to the Congress on one of the two Assembly bypolls in the state.
In Karnataka, the BJP high command’s favoured leader to replace veteran BS Yediyurappa for the post of the state chief minister, Bommai, had a rude reality check. The BJP lost to the Congress in Hangal, a seat in Bommai’s home district.
In West Bengal, the BJP, led by Suvendu Adhikari, not only performed abysmally, but two of the four seats saw the Communist Party of India (Marxist) competing with the BJP for the number two spot.
The BJP performed exceptionally in Assam, where Himanta Biswa Sarma had wrested the leadership job from Sarbananda Sonowoal, the high command favourite.