Shahnawaz Hussain holds state BJP responsible for defeat in Bihar by-polls

BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain on Monday attempted to downplay the party's dismal show in the Bihar by-polls, saying it must not be compared with the result of the Lok Sabha elections.

"The by-polls result was not up to our expectations. We thought that we will manage to win despite the alliance between the RJD and the JD (U)," Hussain told ANI.

"This election was for the state of Bihar and thus has nothing to do with the Centre because only the politicians of the state were campaigning for these elections. The state BJP takes the responsibility; it has nothing to do with our national leadership," he added.

Hussain asserted that the people of Bihar have full faith in the BJP.

"I think the people of Bihar are with us. These two parties, the RJD and JD (U), might have come together but they don't have any ideology. They only joined hands in an attempt to defeat us," he said.

The BJP won only four out of 10 seats in the Bihar by-polls, and seven out of 18 seats in the by-polls overall.