UP prepares for crucial by-elections: BJP and Opposition gear up for another showdown

The opposition, particularly the Indi alliance, aims to replicate its success from the Lok Sabha elections in these by-polls.

Uttar Pradesh is set to witness intense political activity as by-elections are scheduled for ten assembly seats. These by-elections, coming immediately after 2024 Lok Sabha elections, will be a critical test for the ruling BJP and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath as they seek to recover from recent setbacks.

The by-elections are necessitated due to various reasons, including eight seats vacated by MLAs who became MPs, and the Sisamau seat in Kanpur falling vacant after SP MLA Irfan Solanki's conviction and subsequent sentencing to seven years in prison. The elections are expected to be held by August.

The constituencies facing by-elections are diverse, with the SP having five vacant seats due to MLAs becoming MPs and Solanki’s conviction. These seats include Karhal, Milkipur, Katehari, Kundarki, and Sisamau. The BJP has three vacant seats, with the MLAs from Ghaziabad, Khair, and Phulpur becoming MPs. Other constituencies that will go to polls are Meerapur and Majhawan.

The BJP, having secured fewer seats in the recent Lok Sabha elections, is launching a comprehensive damage control strategy. The Yogi government has appointed 18 ministers as election in-charges across the ten constituencies, demonstrating the high stakes involved. The central leadership has tasked Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and BJP state president Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary with overseeing the efforts to secure these seats.

The opposition, particularly the Indi alliance, aims to replicate its success from the Lok Sabha elections in these by-polls. Each party is strategising to maximize its impact, with the BJP appointing individual party officials as in-charges for each constituency.

“The upcoming by-elections will not only test the BJP's strategies post-Lok Sabha elections but will also set the tone for the political landscape in Uttar Pradesh. The results will influence the functioning of the government and could shift political allegiances, making these elections a significant event in UP's political calendar,” said a senior journalist Rajendra Kumar.

Following are the constituencies that will go to polls:

Karhal: The Karhal seat in Mainpuri district, vacated by SP national president Akhilesh Yadav, is a key focus. The BJP has deployed a strong team on this Yadav, Shakya, and Muslim-dominated seat. Higher Education Minister Yogendra Upadhyay, Minister of State Ajit Pal, and Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh are in charge. SP's likely candidate is Tej Pratap Yadav, while BJP is considering fielding Anuj Yadav, a son-in-law from the Yadav family, to make the contest interesting.

Milkipur: In Ayodhya's Milkipur seat, reserved for Scheduled Castes, Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi and Minister of State Mayankeshwar Sharan Singh are leading the charge. The BJP is considering several candidates, including former MLAs and locals, while speculation surrounds SP's candidate being Ajit Prasad, son of nine-time MLA Awadhesh Pasi.

Katehari: In the Kurmi-dominated Katehari constituency, the government has appointed Water Power Minister Swatantra Dev Singh and Technical Education Minister Ashish Patel as in-charges. The BJP might field a Brahmin or Nishad candidate, while SP is expected to nominate a Kurmi community candidate.

Sisamau: For Kanpur's Sisamau seat, Finance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna and State Vice President Manvendra Singh are in charge. SP may field a family member of the convicted Irfan Solanki, while BJP is considering a Brahmin candidate to polarize votes.

Phulpur: In Prayagraj's Phulpur seat, MSME Minister Rakesh Sachan and Transport Minister Dayashankar Singh are responsible. BJP is preparing to field a Kurmi candidate.

Kundarki: The Muslim-dominated Kundarki seat in Moradabad has Livestock Minister Dharmpal Singh, Cooperative Minister JPS Rathore, and Secondary Education Minister Gulab Devi in charge. The BJP is looking to field a Kshatriya or Jat candidate.

Meerapur: In Muzaffarnagar's Meerapur seat, Cabinet Minister Anil Kumar and Minister of State Somendra Tomar are leading the efforts. BJP is likely to field a Jat candidate from its ally RLD.

Majhawan: The Majhawan seat in Mirzapur district sees Labor Minister Anil Rajbhar in charge. BJP, along with its ally Apna Dal (S), is looking for a strong candidate from the Bind, Kurmi, Rajbhar, or Nishad community.

Khair: For Aligarh's Khair seat, reserved for Scheduled Castes, Sugarcane Minister Laxminarayan Chaudhary is in charge. BJP is considering a Valmiki or Jatav candidate.

Ghaziabad: The traditional BJP seat of Ghaziabad has been handed over to a cabinet minister, with Sunil Sharma in command. A Vaishya or Brahmin candidate is likely to be fielded by the BJP.