Lok Sabha Bypoll Results 2018: After Losing Kairana and Bhandara-Gondia Seats, BJP Down to 272 in Lower House
In bypolls for 13 seats which were last represented by the BJP, the party has retained only 5, losing 8 others.
New Delhi, May 31: After 30 years, the BJP became the first-ever party to form a full majority government in India. The party won 282 seats in the 2014 general elections -- 10 more than the halfway majority-mark. However, a string of setbacks in Lok Sabha bypolls in the past four years has brought down its tally to 272.
The fresh jolt to the saffron camp came on Thursday, when it failed to retain two out of the three parliamentary constituencies where by-elections were held on May 28.
In Maharashtra, the BJP failed to retain Bhandara-Gondia, the seat which its erstwhile candidate Nana Patole had wrested from NCP heavyweight Praful Patel. NCP reclaimed the seat with its candidate Madhukar Kukde defeating BJP's Hemant Patle.
However, the party succeeded in retaining Palghar, where it's candidate Rajendra Gavit defeated Shiv Sena's Srinivas Wanga, son of deceased BJP MP Chintaman Wanga.
The biggest jolt came to the BJP in Kairana, the communally-sensitive seat in western Uttar Pradesh. The party lost the constituency to RLD, which was backed by the SP, BSP and Congress.
In last 4 years: BJP tally in Lok Sabha slides from 282 to 273
In the past four years, by-elections for 26 Lok Sabha seats have been conducted. Bypolls in 13 of these seats were called due to either the demise or resignation of the incumbent BJP lawmakers. Notably, the party failed to retain 8 among the 13 seats.
From the other 13 seats, which were last represented by non-BJP lawmakers, the party has failed wrest any among them.
With 8 lawmakers subtracted from it's 2014 tally, the strength of the BJP comes down to 274. However, two Karnataka BJP MPs - BS Yeddyurappa and B Sriramulu - submitted their resignations last week after being elected to the legislative assembly. Their resignations further brings down the saffron party to 272.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 31, 2018 02:52 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).