BJP nominee S S Ahluwalia on Thursday lost in the Rajya Sabha bypoll, with Congress candidate Pradeep Balmuchu coasting to a smooth victory because of help from RJD strongman Lalu Prasad and the indifference of Arjun Munda, BJP chief minister of Jharkhand. Sanjeev Kumar, belonging to BJP's ally Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, was the other winner in an outcome which was celebrated by many in Congress as much because of Balmuchu's win as for the defeat of Ahluwalia whom they held responsible for the gridlock in the Upper House, holding up passage of key bills.