The ruling BJP attributed its defeat in Mandi Lok Sabha and all three assembly seats — Fatehpur, Arki, Jubbal-Kotkhai — in by-election in Himachal Pradesh in October to the sympathy of voters for the six-time CM Virbhadra Singh, who breathed his last on July 8 due to post-Covid complications. Speaking about BJP's defeat in the bypoll, Thakur said the results of those elections were affected by special circumstances. Congress sought votes in the name of Virbhadra Singh by raising the slogan “Vote Nahin, Shardhanjli Hai '', he added.