The general elections have wrapped up, but the outcomes have left BJP grappling with setbacks that won't easily heal. Akhilesh Yadav savors victory over the BJP after a 12-year wait, spurring excitement within his coalition. Thus, the upcoming by-elections in 10 assembly seats are now critical for both BJP and India Block.
Although by-election dates are not yet announced, both coalitions have begun strategizing. BJP's national organization secretary, B.L. Santosh, is scrutinizing preparations for these seats in Lucknow, while Akhilesh Yadav has engaged intensely in election planning post the legislative session's wrap.
For Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, a win in these 10 seats is pivotal for his political career, as a loss could spark questioning of his leadership. On the flip side, Akhilesh Yadav aims to keep his Lok Sabha election momentum going, with the 2027 state assembly elections marking a do-or-die battle for him. The SP-Congress coalition has triumphed in most assembly segments within the 80 Lok Sabha seats.
CM Yogi has taken personal command of the by-election, aware that a defeat could reflect poorly on him. Thus, he's initiated a robust selection and management process for candidates and campaign strategies.
The following seats are set for by-elections:
Karhal, Milkipur, Katehri, Kundarki, Ghaziabad, Khair, Meerapur, Phulpur, Majhwa, and Sisamau.
15 Ministers tasked with candidate selection:
CM Yogi called upon 15 ministers to form a team for candidate selection in the 10 assembly by-elections. They are instructed to report directly to the Chief Minister about their selections and the local situation. It seems CM Yogi intends to intervene directly in this by-election, a departure from his usual stance, signaling the high stakes involved.
Seats where BJP faces a tough challenge:
Karhal -
Akhilesh Yadav, former Karhal MLA, now a Kannauj MP, is considering his nephew Tej Pratap as a candidate.
Milkipur -
In Ayodhya’s Milkipur, former MLA Avdhesh Prasad, now an MP, has made his son Ajit Prasad a prospective candidate. This seat could prove difficult for BJP.
Sisamau -
In Kanpur, the SP stronghold Sisamau seat vacated due to Irfan Solanki's conviction is expected to garner sympathy votes, making it a challenge for BJP.
Kundarki -
The Kundarki seat in Moradabad is a SP bastion, due to its significant Muslim population, making it a hard win for BJP.
Katehri -
SP senior leader and MLA Lalji Verma, now an MP from Ambedkar Nagar, is likely to field his daughter Chhaya Verma, another challenging seat for the BJP.
Meerapur -
Winning Meerapur in Muzaffarnagar is not easy for BJP as it was claimed by the RLD-SP coalition in 2022; Chandan Chauhan, previously an MLA, is now an MP.
Phulpur -
Phulpur elected BJP’s Praveen Patel as MLA in 2022, but he has now become an MP.
Congress too eyes running in the elections:
Last election, SP claimed victory in Karhal, Milkipur, Katehri, and Kundarki seats, while BJP held Ghaziabad, Khair, Phulpur. Majhwa was won by the Nishad Party, and RLD claimed Meerapur. This time, Congress also aspires to compete for 2-3 seats.
These MLAs became MPs, prompting by-elections to their vacant seats:
- Praveen Patel, BJP MLA from Phulpur, has won the Lok Sabha seat there. - Anoop Pradhan Valmiki, BJP MLA from Khair, won the Hathras Lok Sabha seat. - Dr. Atul Garg, BJP MLA from Ghaziabad, claimed the Ghaziabad Lok Sabha seat. - Dr. Vinod Kumar Bind, Nishad Party MLA from Majhwa, won the Bhadohi Lok Sabha seat as a BJP candidate. - Chandan Chauhan, RLD MLA from Meerapur, became the MP from Bijnor. - Avdhesh Prasad, SP MLA from Milkipur, won the Faizabad Lok Sabha seat. - Akhilesh Yadav, Karhal MLA and opposition leader, won the Lok Sabha election from Kannauj. - Lalji Verma, SP MLA from Katehri, secured victory in the Lok Sabha election from Ambedkar Nagar. - Jiaur Rahman Berk, MLA from Kundarki, won the Lok Sabha election from Sambhal.
