By-Poll Results: BJP Loses Ground in States It Won Four Months Ago

A triumphant UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party called it a rejection of the people of "communal politics." Critics have accused the BJP of leaning on the 'Love Jihad' campaign to polarise voters in these by-elections. Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party is the big winner of today's round of by-elections, winning eight of 11 seats in Uttar Pradesh, ten of which were previously held by the BJP and one by its ally the Apna Dal. For the ruling BJP good news comes only from West Bengal, where it has made a debut.