AGARTALA, April 16 (TIWN): Tripura CM Biplab Deb has turned once again ‘unlucky’ for Bengal BJP as after he campaigned, the candidate in Bengal faced major losses. In Bengal Assembly Poll also, same happened that after Deb campaigned, BJP lost in those seats. However, it might have two meanings. One is Deb is unlucky for BJP or Biplab Deb is sent to such constituencies, where BJP knows its confirm defeat. Trinamool Congress leader Shatrugan Sinha is set to return to the Lok Sabha with a big win in the bypoll for Bengal's Asansol seat. The former BJP and Congress leader is ahead by over 1.5 lakh votes at 2:10 pm. The BJP's Agnimitra Paul is second with around 2.18 lakh votes, while CPI(M)'s Partha Mukherjee has fewer than 51,000 votes.

The by-elections were necessitated after ex union minister Babul Supriyo resigned from the BJP after the party's poor showing in the 2021 Bengal assembly election and, a while later, joined the ruling Trinamool. Supiyo has now been fielded from the Ballygung assembly seat and is leading a Left candidate in that race, setting up the Trinamool for a perfect score. 

Shatrughan Sinha is set to return as a Lok Sabha MP three years after losing his stronghold of Patna Sahib in Bihar to BJP leader and former union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad. Sinha quit the BJP shortly before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and joined the Congress, which fielded him from Patna Sahib. However, Ravi Shankar Prasad secured over six lakh votes for an easy win.

Popularly called 'Bihari babu', the 76-year-old Shatrughan Sinha began his political career with the BJP in the early 80s. During the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-LK Advani era, he served as the party's star campaigner and was also a union minister in Vajpayee's cabinet.  Sinha quit the BJP after differences with the party leadership and joined Congress.  Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee tweeted Saturday afternoon to thank the voters in both Ballygunge and Asansol for 'a decisive mandate to AITC party candidates'.