BJP suffers defeats in by‑elections across Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat

By‑elections held in July in three constituencies—one each in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat—resulted in losses for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In Bihar’s Pankipur seat, the Janata Party candidate Prashant Kishor defeated the BJP contender by about 19,000 votes, overturning expectations of a BJP win. Similar outcomes occurred in the Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat contests, where opposition candidates secured victories.

Samajwadi Party leader Akilesh Yadav criticised the BJP’s campaign strategy, questioning whether the party could win elections without adhering to “fair” practices. He also raised concerns about the use of electronic voting machines, suggesting the BJP was attempting to shift blame onto the technology after its defeats.