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The upcoming by-election in Uttar Pradesh's Milkipur constituency is shaping up to be a fiercely contested battle between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP). The BJP has fielded Chandrabhan Paswan as its candidate, while the SP has nominated Awadhesh Prasad's son, Ajit Prasad. The seat became vacant after Awadhesh Prasad, a nine-time MLA and prominent SP leader, won the Faizabad Lok Sabha seat, defeating the BJP's Lallu Singh. This victory by the SP holds significant symbolic weight for both parties, particularly given the context of the recent Lok Sabha elections and the opening of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
The Milkipur bypoll is considered especially important due to its proximity to Ayodhya, a city with immense religious and political significance. The BJP's loss in the Faizabad Lok Sabha seat, which includes Ayodhya, was a significant blow to their image, especially considering it followed shortly after the highly publicized opening of the Ram Temple. The BJP will undoubtedly be keen to regain ground in this strategically important area, and the Milkipur by-election offers a crucial opportunity to do so. The contest is further amplified by the demographic makeup of the Milkipur constituency. With approximately 3.7 lakh voters, the constituency has a notable Pasi Dalit population of around 80,000, a similar number of Brahmins, around 50,000 Yadavs, and approximately 20,000 Thakurs and Muslims each. This diverse electorate presents a complex challenge for both parties, requiring them to craft targeted campaigns to appeal to specific communities.
Awadhesh Prasad, the SP's previous MLA, enjoyed a long and successful career representing the area. His seven terms as MLA from the then Sohawal (SC) constituency, beginning in 1977, and two terms from Milkipur (SC) since 2012, highlight his deep connection to the constituency. His only defeat came in 2017 against the BJP's Baba Gorakhnath, with a margin of 28,000 votes. This past election result and Awadhesh Prasad's extensive experience and influence undoubtedly create a formidable challenge for the BJP's candidate. The BJP will need to demonstrate a compelling reason for voters to shift their loyalty, given the strong local support for the Prasad family. The outcome of the Milkipur by-election will not only determine the seat’s representation but will also serve as a crucial indicator of public sentiment and the relative strength of both parties ahead of future electoral contests. The bypoll, scheduled for February 5th, is being closely watched as a barometer of political power dynamics in this important region of Uttar Pradesh.
The fact that seven of the nine seats in the by-elections held on November 20th were won by the BJP and its ally, the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), including the Muslim-dominated Kundarki, demonstrates the BJP's current strength. However, the Milkipur constituency’s unique demographic composition and the high-profile nature of the contest make it a far less certain victory for the BJP. The legacy of Awadhesh Prasad and the potential for shifting voter alliances in response to the high stakes involved makes this by-election a significant test for both the BJP and the SP. The campaign promises to be intense, with both parties deploying considerable resources and strategic campaigning to garner support from the diverse electorate of Milkipur.
Source: UP bypoll: BJP fields Chandrabhan Paswan from Milkipur seat