Oppn picks up 10 of 13 bypoll seats, keeps momentum

Cong and TMC pocket 4 assembly seats each, BJP gets 2, Independent bags Rupauli in Bihar

- PREETHA NAIR

IN a major boost to the Opposition in the first bypolls after the general elections, the INDIA bloc gained an upper hand over the NDA by winning 10 out of 13 assembly seats that were up for grabs across seven states. While the BJP managed to secure one seat each in Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, an Independent candidate wrested Bihar's Rupauli seat.

The bypoll results were keenly watched as they are expected to set the tone for the upcoming elections to four states J&K, Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand scheduled for later this year. Coming on the heels of the Lok Sabha elections, the results are a setback to the BJP, which failed to secure a majority of its own to form the government at the Centre.