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The upcoming bypolls in Uttar Pradesh are taking center stage, with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath actively engaging in preparations. He held a crucial meeting with senior officials on October 19th at his residence in Lucknow, strategizing for the upcoming elections. The Election Commission had previously announced that bypolls for nine of the ten vacant assembly seats would be held on November 13th, with the counting of votes scheduled for November 23rd. The bypoll for the Milkipur assembly seat, however, was not announced as an election petition against the previous winner is pending in the high court.
The bypolls are taking place in the wake of several MLAs being elected to the Lok Sabha. The vacant seats include Katehari, Karhal, Meerapur, Kundarki, Phulpur, Sisamau, Ghaziabad, Majhawan, and Khair. The bypoll in Sisamau is specifically due to the disqualification of Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Irfan Solanki, who was convicted in a criminal case. In the 2022 assembly elections, the SP held Sisamau, Katehari, Karhal, Milkipur, and Kundarki, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won Phulpur, Ghaziabad, Majhawan, and Khair. The Meerapur seat was held by the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD).
As the BJP membership campaign launched on October 19th, UP CM Yogi Adityanath became an active member, highlighting his continued involvement in the party. Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya also joined the membership drive, emphasizing the party's initiative to engage citizens and expand its base. The BJP's commitment to the bypolls is evident, with a delegation led by state general secretary Govind Narain Shukla requesting the Election Commission to postpone the bypoll dates from November 13th to November 20th, citing the Kartik Purnima festival. The delegation argued that a large number of people take bath during Kartik Purnima, with many traveling to Kundarki, Meerapur, Ghaziabad, and Prayagraj several days in advance. This, they believe, could potentially hinder voter turnout.
The Samajwadi Party has already announced its candidates for six of the assembly seats: Karhal, Sisamau, Milkipur, Katehari, Phulpur, and Majhawan. The bypolls are expected to be fiercely contested, with both the BJP and SP vying for victory. The outcome of these bypolls will hold significant implications for the political landscape of Uttar Pradesh, offering insights into the public's support for both parties and influencing the political dynamics leading up to the next state assembly elections.
Source: Uttar Pradesh bypolls: CM Yogi Adityanath, senior officials meeting underway in Lucknow