“We won all 5 seats with a huge margin. Today’s electoral victory in Assam isn’t an ordinary victory as in every seat we won by a margin higher than in general elections. People of North East have reposed their faith in leadership of PM Modi,” chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
However, in BJP ruled northern state of Haryana, opposition INLD’s Abhay Singh Chautala, who had quit the assembly in protests against the Centre’s three agriculture laws, was re-elected from the Ellenabad seat. Chautala defeated BJP’s Gobind Kanda with a margin of over 6,700 votes.
Down south, the BJP gained a seat in Telangana with the victory of former state minister Eatala Rajender who switched from the ruling TRS.
In another saffron party ruled southern state Karnataka, chief minister Basavaraj Bommai faced his first electoral test and had no reason to be happy with the 1-1 result in the two by-elections held to the assembly constituencies of Hanagal and Sindgi.
The by-polls were necessitated after the death of Hanagal MLA CM Udasi of the BJP and Sindgi MLA MC Managuli of the Janata Dal (Secular).
The BJP wrested Sindgi assembly segment from the JD(S) but lost the Hangal seat to the Congress. Hangal would hurt. That’s because the constituency is in Bommai’s Haveri district, with the chief minister elected thrice as a lawmaker from the Shiggaon seat.
Bommai was quick to react, saying he had taken the election setback very seriously and would take necessary corrective action.
Both the national parties interpreted the by-poll results in their own way. BJP chief J P Nadda congratulated party workers and expressed gratitude to the people for the victory of BJP and NDA in the Lok Sabha and assembly by-elections.
”Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the NDA governments are continuously committed to the overall development of the people by following the basic mantra of Antyodaya,” he said.
The Congress cited the by-poll results to attack PM Modi and asked him to shed arrogance, repeal the three farm laws and stop petrol and diesel “loot”.
“Every victory for the Congress is a victory of our party worker. Keep fighting hate. No fear!” Rahul Gandhi tweeted after the by-poll results.
Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said: “BJP has lost 2 out of 3 Lok Sabha seats. In assembly seats, BJP has lost in most places in direct contest with Congress in HP, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Maharashtra. Modi ji, Shed arrogance! Repeal 3 Black Laws! Stop Petrol-Diesel-Gas Loot! Disdain for people’s pain is harmful”.
