Bypolls result: BJP had lost bypolls before historic UP win too, says Sambit Patra

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra addressed a press conference after the bypoll results. He said that the bypoll results have also thrown up a silver lining, as the BJP improved its performance drastically in the Maheshtala seat.

"The BJP and Modi wave has been repeatedly questioned. Despite this, we keep winning election-after-election. Bypolls are fought on regional issues and to the Congress party, which is celebrating as of now, I'd like to say that they have been designated as a peripheral player. They are not playing, rather sitting and clapping on others' performance. They are cheerleaders," said BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra.

Results for by-elections held in four Lok Sabha seats and 10 assembly seats across 10 states were declared today.

In a big setback to the ruling BJP, the opposition parties on Thursday snatched 12 seats, limiting the saffron party and its allies to just three, out of four Lok Sabha and 11 Assembly seats across 11 states.

The results also pointed towards the strengthening of a non-BJP alliance in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and the need for the saffron party to devise new strategies to counter the Opposition unity.