India’s Congress Party on Tuesday termed the results of the nine-State assembly bypolls, in which the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) suffered major reverses, as a “good omen” for secular forces and said it should ring alarm bells in the saffron party as people have rejected the “politics of polarization”.

The BJP suffered a major blow in the assembly by-elections in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat, the states it had swept in the Lok Sabha polls four months ago, losing 13 of the 24 seats held by it.

Saying that “Modi (government’s) honeymoon period with the people was over”, party spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed sought to portray the verdict in Uttar Pradesh, where the BJP could win only three of the 11 Assembly seats while the rest going to the SP, as “the vote against BJP more than in favor of any party”.

He, at the same time, acknowledged that the Congress could not perform as per its expectations in the State by not winning a single seat, but reminded that in the Lok Sabha elections too, it had won only in two of the 80 Parliamentary constituencies.

Ahmed claimed that anti-incumbency factor has set in within 100 days of Modi government coming to power.

“People did not like the attitude of BJP and Modi government. While the Prime Minister himself kept silent, BJP leaders and Ministers in the Modi government played the politics of polarization with their statements. People of Uttar Pradesh have rejected BJP’s politics of hate mongering.

“This is perhaps first government, whose anti-incumbency had begun within 100 days of coming to power... Alarm bells are ringing for the BJP. This is a good omen for secular forces that people have started rejecting them,” Ahmed said.

He, however, noted that the Congress’ gains in Gujarat and Rajasthan were significant, as the party had drawn a blank in both States in the Lok Sabha polls.

Ahmed alleged that the BJP wanted to pit communities against each other under a well-planned conspiracy and had they succeeded, this could have led to race among others to try the method to gain power.

Reeling out figures, the Congress spokesperson said ever since Modi became prime minister, bypolls have been held in 54 Assembly constituencies. Of these BJP had a lead in 42, but it now has come down to 21.

“Not only this, the 33 seats on which elections results were declared today, the BJP has lost on 13 of the 26 seats it had won. They have in half of these seats... It indicates Modi (government’s) honeymoon period with people was getting over.

“Through the results, people have made clear that they do not agree with the policies of this government,” he said.

Ahmed, at the same time, sounded a word of caution saying the elections have been held this time on only a few seats and hence “it cannot be said that the BJP is finished.”