A few months ahead of the assembly polls in five states, including Uttar Pradesh, BJP on Tuesday had a mixed bag of results in the bypolls, with severe setbacks in Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh, triggering talk of changes in the organisation and leadership of the two states, reports Akhilesh Singh.

Defeats in Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan cast a shadow on the party’s clean sweep in Assam and the northeast, an odd-defying victory in Telangana, successes in Bihar and MP and a better-than-expected performance in alliance with Dushyant Chautala in Ellenabad in Haryana.

BJP not only lost the two bypolls in Rajasthan, its candidates stood third and fourth in Dhariawad and Vallabhnagar segments, training the spotlight on former CM Vasundhara Raje’s differences with her factional rivals. Himachal Pradesh CM Jairam Thakur was under adverse spotlight after the party lost the bypoll for Mandi Lok Sabha and three assembly seats. The results can revive demands for the replacement of Thakur. The CM, according to reports, blamed the setback on price rise. However, this may not save him from coming under intense scrutiny.

(With inputs from agencies)