TMC Sweeps Bengal; Cheer for Cong in Himachal, Rajasthan; BJP Holds MP

The Congress dealt a blow to the ruling BJP in Himachal Pradesh, sweeping all three Assembly seats and the Lok Sabha constituency of Mandi in byelections that took place on October 30. However, the BJP strengthened its control over Assam, winning, along with NDA ally United People’s Party, Liberal, (UPPL) all five Assembly seats for which byelections were held. The party also won two of the three byelections to the Madhya Pradesh Assembly, and the Khandwa Lok Sabha seat.

In West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress continued its triumphant march, winning all four Assembly byelections by huge margins. Two of these seats had been won by the BJP in the Assembly elections of April-May, but had been given up by the winning candidates who had chosen to retain their seats in Lok Sabha.

Byelections were held for three Lok Sabha and 29 Assembly seats in 14 states across the country on October 30, counting for which was held on Tuesday. A seat in the Nagaland Assembly was filled without contest.

The BJP won seven of the 29 state Assembly seats for which elections were held, and its allies, the UPPL in Assam and JD(U) in Bihar, won two seats each. The Congress, which fought alone, won eight of the 29 Assembly seats.