Early trends in bypolls across the country have come as a rude shock for the BJP, as it faces some losses in Gujarat and Rajasthan, while its rivals SP and TMC were ahead in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
The BJP's arch rival in Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party (SP) is also ahead in six of the nine Assembly seats for which trends have come. The BJP alliance had won all 11 seats in 2012, elections for which have now been held. The BJP is ahead in only three, while SP is leading in six seats.
The ruling TRS is leading in the Medak, the lone Lok Sabha seat in Telangana, for which by-election had been held.
In West Bengal, the TMC is leading in two seats, and the Congress in one.
By-elections were held for three LS seats - Vadodara (Gujarat), Medak (Telangana)and Mainpuri - on September 13.
The BJP is ahead in Maninagar, the constituency vacated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
UP's ruling Samajwadi Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are the main contenders in most of the Assembly seats and the lone Lok Sabha seat. The BJP won 71 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in May, and had won all the 11 Assembly seats along with its ally Apna Dal in UP.
In Gujarat, suprisingly, the Congress was initially leading in five of the nine seats but the lead later changed hands and the BJP is ahead in five seats as at 9 a.m.
Counting for three key Lok Sabha seats and 33 Assembly seats began this morning.
The problem for the BJP is that it has projected Modi in the by-elections, and any adverse result especially in UP, could be bad news for the ruling party at the Centre.
