By-polls setback bad news for BJP, says AAP's Yogendra Yadav

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party today said that the by-polls setback was “bad news” for BJP, but does not mean “good news” yet for the opposition parties. In a series of tweets, senior AAP leader Yogendra Yadav said that the electoral losses have put a question mark on the “good days” promise of the Narendra Modi government and opened up a “space” for the building of a “real opposition”. [caption id=“attachment_1715731” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Yogendra Yadav. Ibnlive[/caption] “Bad news for BJP, but not yet good news for Opposition. Question mark on Achchhe Din Space to build real opposition,” Yadav, also a noted psephologist, said in a tweet. He said that the results were a sign that the saffron tide was beginning to recede and BJP cannot take its Lok Sabha victory for granted. BJP was today dealt a major blow in Assembly by-elections in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat — states which it had swept in the Lok Sabha polls four months back — as it lost 13 of the 23 seats held by it. Yadav said he does not remember the last time a ruling party had done as badly in by-elections within six months of a successful Lok Sabha poll campaign. “The BJP victory in Lok Sabha hasn’t negated the logic & rhythm of state politics. BJP cannot take its victory for granted. “Clear though moderate signs that BJP’s tide is beginning to recede. Couldn’t hold gains in BJP and non-BJP ruled states,” Yadav said, although he further tweeted that, “No clear pattern in opposition gains from BJP. Too early for non-BJP parties to claim victory.” The AAP leader said that bypoll losses for BJP in UP, Karnataka and Uttarakhand was understood as it was in the opposition in these states, but it was difficult to explain the reverses in Gujarat and Rajasthan, which not only have BJP governments but also delivered thumping wins to the party in Lok Sabha polls. “UP, Uttarakhand, Karnataka could be attributed to pro ruling party bias in by-polls. But what explains BJP reverses in Gujarat and Rajasthan?” Yadav tweeted. AAP and BJP have emerged as the main rivals in the politics of National Capital Region since last year when the former scripted a spectacular success under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal. The development marginalised the Congress in Delhi, a state which it had ruled for 15 long years. PTI