Counting took place for by-elections to 18 assembly seats in four states - Bihar, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab. This is being considered as the first major test of strength for the BJP since the Lok Sabha polls.
Bihar BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi speaks on by-election results:- We will evaluate why we lost, where we could have done better.
- The four seats we have won are in four different corners of Bihar. We will introspect on why we lost Chapra or Bhagalpur.
- I believe that when it comes to forming a government or changing a government, people will vote for us.
- Nitish didn't benefit, Lalu did. We treated Nitish as elder brother, for Lalu he is younger.
- PM Narendra Modi had nothing to do with bypoll loss.
The results have been satisfactory. I thank all voters: Nitish Kumar After the Nitish Kumar-Lalu Yadav alliance won six of the 10 seats in the by-polls in Bihar today, Mr Kumar thanked all voters.
Following are the highlights of his press conference:- Not only in Bihar but even outside the state, people were watching the results of the by-polls to these 10 assembly seats
- I don't think so much has been written or said about by-polls earlier... these polls were important, they were significant
- Sadbhaav ke dhara ki jeet aur unmaad ke dhara ki haar...
- We have to do more work, see how seats can be divided and parties can coordinate better. If we'd decided on seats earlier, results could have been better
- Our experiment has been successful...
JUST IN- Punjab by-polls: Former union minister and Congress leader Preneet Kaur wins Patiala, AAP candidate loses deposit
- Karnataka by-polls: Congress wins BJP stronghold of Bellary (Rural) with a margin of 25,000 votes
Karnataka trends (total three seats):- Chikkodi-Sadalga - Congress leads
- Bellary - Congress leads
- Shikaripur - BJP leads
Madhya Pradesh trends (three seats):- Vijayraghavgarh - BJP leads
- Bahoriband - Congress leads
- Agar - BJP leads
Bihar trends (total 10 seats):- Narkatiaganj - BJP leads
- Rajnagar - BJP leads
- Jale - JD(U) leads
- Chapra - RJD leads
- Hajipur - BJP leads
- Mohiuddinnagar - RJD leads
- Parbatta - JD(U) leads
- Bhagalpur - Congress leads
- Banka - BJP leads
- Mohania - BJP leads
Punjab trends:
Congress leading in the Patiala constituency while the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is ahead in the Talwandi Sabo seat
Security personnel outside the counting centre in Chapra in Bihar
Counting of votes for by-elections to 18 assembly constituencies in four states begins
Preparations at a counting centre in Chapra in Bihar
Preparations at a counting centre in Punjab which witnessed by-elections in two assembly constituencies