Sat Nov 23 10:54:12 UTC 2024: ## BJP Leads in Crucial By-Elections Across 15 States

**New Delhi, [Date]:** The counting of votes for by-elections across 15 states is underway, with results trickling in for 46 assembly seats and two Lok Sabha seats. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is currently leading in a significant number of constituencies.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is maintaining a commanding lead in the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala, with over 4 lakh votes ahead of her nearest rival. In contrast, Madhya Pradesh saw the defeat of BJP’s Ramniwas Rawat (former Congress MLA) in Vijaypur. However, BJP candidate Ramakant Bhargav is leading in Budhni, the constituency previously held by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP alliance is ahead in 7 out of 9 assembly seats, with the Samajwadi Party (SP) leading in the remaining 2. Overall, the BJP alliance is leading in 24 out of the 46 assembly seats counted so far, while Congress is ahead in 7, TMC in 6, and other parties in varying numbers. Before the elections, the opposition held 27 of these seats, with Congress alone holding 13.

While celebrations erupted in Assam following BJP’s victory in the by-elections, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav stated that the party would review its losses in Jharkhand while viewing the Maharashtra wins as a new opportunity. Deputy CM of UP, Brajesh Pathak, expressed confidence that the BJP would win 8 out of 9 seats in the state. He attributed the likely victories to PM Modi’s welfare schemes.

The by-elections saw various political narratives unfold. In Rajasthan, BJP leads in several constituencies while BAP and Congress are ahead in others. Punjab witnessed a mixed bag of results, with Congress and AAP leading in different constituencies. In Karnataka, BJP and JD(S) candidates are leading in the constituencies where they contested. Bihar and Assam also saw results favouring different parties.

The by-elections were marked by several incidents, including violence during voting in Uttar Pradesh and an altercation at a counting center in Rajasthan. The results are being closely watched as indicators of public sentiment ahead of upcoming state elections. The high-profile Wayanad seat, vacated by Rahul Gandhi, saw Priyanka Gandhi’s entry into electoral politics, adding a layer of national interest to the results. Similarly, the Maharashtra and UP results are being interpreted as tests of the ruling parties’ strength. The by-elections also highlighted the role of dynastic politics and defections in several states. The close contests in several constituencies indicate a dynamic political landscape.

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