Published : Aug 06, 2026 16:20 IST - 4 MINS READTwo factors make the defeat of the BJP in the Bankipur Assembly seat surprising. First, this is not any normal Assembly constituency; this fully urban seat has been a BJP stronghold, and the party has won successive elections from here without a break. Secondly, normally it is the ruling party that is a favourite of voters in most byelections. In the previous byelections held for seven Assembly seats in 2026, all seven were won by the ruling party/alliance, five by the BJP/NDA and two by the Congress in Karnataka. In 2025, byelections were held for 15 Assembly seats, of which ruling parties/coalition registered victories in nine while opposition candidates registered victories in six.