We are less than a year away from the next general election and it is now clear that this promises to be a real contest. Today's bypoll results have come as a huge setback for the BJP and a boost for the opposition. The loss of the Kairana Lok Sabha seat in particular marks the third big Lok Sabha bypoll loss for the BJP in Uttar Pradesh. In this all important swing state, the BJP won 71 of the 80 seats in 2014. What these bypolls have shown is that it will not be easy for the BJP to repeat that performance in UP next year and that in turn will have a huge bearing on the election outcome. These bypolls have shown that it is a united opposition alone that can take on the might of the BJP and from here on they will look to consolidate that further. The big question is: Will they stay together?
