New Delhi: Votes were counted on Friday for byelections in five Assembly seats in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry, along with the Nagaon Lok Sabha seat in Assam.
The results were a thumping approval for ruling parties in all four states and one Union territory.
The BJP strengthened its position even further in West Bengal, winning both in Nandigram and Rejinagar by resounding margins. In Nandigram — where chief minister Suvendu Adhikari vacated the seat after winning in Bhabanipore also in the Assembly polls six months ago — BJP’s Hasi Rani Rath won by a record 122,753 votes.
Aam Janata Unnayan party, from where Humayun Kabir had won one of his two seats in May, came second, while the Congress and Mamata Trinamool were way behind.
Rejinagar, a Muslim-dominated constituency, saw BJP winning for the first time – that too by over 75,000 votes. Congress finished second.
“Muslims have found a new friend in us,” Suvendu said even before the results were declared officially.
Vijay’s TVK, which assumed office in Tamil Nadu after leaving DMK and AIDMK in its wake in the Assembly polls in April, won the Dharapuram seat by a margin of 9,471 votes. In Madurantakam, the TVK candidate led by over 20,040 votes with the final round of counting in process.
Both winning candidates had revolted against AIADMK and joined the TVK.
The Thattanchavady seat in Puducherry was clinched by ruling party All India N.R. Congress’ Ashok Anand by 8,482 votes.
It was a cakewalk for the BJP in the lone Parliamentary constituency in Assam’s Nagaon, where Devasish Sharma was leading by over 140,000 votes.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked voters of Bengal and Assam.
“Gratitude to the people for their continuous blessings! The Lok Sabha result of Nagaon (Assam) and Assembly results of Nandigram as well as Rejinagar (West Bengal) show yet again that the people have a deep-rooted connect with the good governance agenda of BJP-NDA. I congratulate the victorious BJP candidates and also applaud the hardwork of our Party Karyakartas. I also congratulate our valued NDA ally, the AINRC, for their win in Thattanchavady in Puducherry. This mandate will give us added strength as we work tirelessly for the welfare of the people and to fulfil their aspirations for a brighter and more prosperous future,” Modi posted on X.