In a significant development during the recent bypolls in Uttarakhand, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost the Badrinath assembly seat to the Congress. The bypolls, which took place on July 10, 2024, were marked by intense political activity and high stakes for both major parties.
The Badrinath seat, previously held by Congress MLA Rajendra Bhandari who had defected to the BJP, saw a direct contest between the BJP and the Congress. Lakhpat Butola of the Congress emerged victorious, defeating Rajendra Bhandari. This loss is seen as a setback for the BJP, which had hoped to consolidate its position in the state.
Following the defeat, the state BJP chief pledged to conduct a thorough review of the party’s performance. He emphasized the need to understand the reasons behind the loss and to strategize better for future elections.
The bypolls in Uttarakhand also included the Manglaur assembly seat, which witnessed significant violence during the voting process. Several Congress workers were injured in clashes, raising concerns about the conduct of the elections.
The results of these bypolls are crucial as they reflect the political mood in the state ahead of the general elections. Both the BJP and the Congress will likely take lessons from these outcomes to refine their strategies moving forward.
Cristabella Ambrosy