BJP loses LS bypoll in MP

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 24

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party at the Centre suffered its first defeat in 18 months, losing a byelection in Madhya Pradesh to the Congress which paled its twin-seat victory in the Manipur Legislative Assembly in byelections results out today.

BJP lost the Ratlam-Jhabua Lok Sabha constituency with Congress wresting the seat, a victory that pushes the party strength to 45 in the House and BJP’s effective strength to 280, minus the Speaker, in the 545-member House, including two nominated members.

Coming as it does in the backdrop of the recent drubbing in Bihar Assembly elections, the result also reverses a trend seen in the six previous byelections to the Lok Sabha since April 2014 where the incumbent parties retained the seats. Overall, the BJP retains its majority on its own, but the setback could add to the turbulence anticipated during the winter session starting Thursday.

BJP’s Nirmala Bhuria lost to former Union Minister Kantilal Bhuria of the Congress in Ratlam-Jhabua (ST) constituency. Nirmala’s father Dileep Singh Bhuria won it in 2014 in the state that gave 27 of the 29 seats to the BJP.

Kantilal’s victory by 88,000 votes defied any sympathy for the daughter of the tribal leader Dileep who was once associated with the Congress. “The wave of BJP’s defeat has started from Jhabua and would spread to the entire state and in the country,” a jubilant Kantilal said.

In the MP Assembly Dewas bypoll, the people voted for erstwhile royal Gayatri Raje Puar, widow of BJP legislator Tukoji Rao, whose death led to a vacancy. She won by a margin of 31,000 votes, defeating Congress’ Jai Prakash Shastri.

Across the Vindhyas, the trend of ruling party retaining seat continued with Telangana Rashtra Samiti, winning the Warangal (SC) Lok Sabha seat. Pasunoori Dayakar won by 4.6 lakh votes, defeating candidates of the Congress and the BJP-TDP combine.

The BJP opened its account in the 60-member Manipur Assembly by winning the bypoll in Thangmeiband and Thongju constituencies, trouncing the Congress in both constituencies. Joykishan Singh and Th Bishwajit Singh emerged winners. Both of them were with the Trinamool Congress earlier.

The Opposition Hill State Democratic Party retained the Nongstoin Assembly seat in Meghalaya with Diosstarness Jyndiang defeating ruling Congress candidate Gabriel Wahlang by over 2,700 votes. This is the second loss for the ruling Congress in a span of one month after it lost in the Garo tribal council elections held last month.

Former Mizoram Health Minister Lal Thanzara of the Congress won the bypoll to Aizawl North-III Assembly seat. Lal Thanzara, younger brother of Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, secured nearly 1,500 votes more than his nearest opponents K Vanlalvena.