UP By-Election 2024: Along with the assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, elections have also been announced for nine assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh. In Uttar Pradesh, votes will be cast on November 13 while counting of votes will take place on November 23. After the huge success of the SP-Congress alliance in the Lok Sabha elections, the by-election of Uttar Pradesh is being considered very important from the political point of view. The results of the by-election will decide the political stature of both Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and state Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. After BJP suffered a setback in the Lok Sabha elections, Yogi Adityanath has put in full force for this by-election. On the other hand, Akhilesh Yadav is also trying to show the strength of his party so that it can prove that the success in the Lok Sabha elections was not just a fluke.
A close fight between BJP and SP
The by-election to be held in Uttar Pradesh is being considered a close battle for the SP-Congress alliance and the BJP. During the Lok Sabha elections, the SP-Congress alliance had given a huge blow to the BJP in Uttar Pradesh. SP had left BJP behind by winning 37 seats and Congress 6 seats.
Due to the setback in Uttar Pradesh, BJP could not get a clear majority on its own in the Lok Sabha elections. Uttar Pradesh is considered the most important state from the political point of view and now the party does not want to let its hold in the state weaken.
Seat distribution complicated between SP-Congress
However, despite the announcement of election dates, the distribution of seats between Samajwadi Party and Congress has not been done yet. Even before seat sharing, SP has declared its candidates on six seats. Congress is demanding five seats but SP chief Akhilesh Yadav is not ready to give so many seats to Congress.
SP is talking about giving two seats to Congress. In such a situation, experts believe that the issue of seat distribution will be resolved only through talks between SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. This matter seems to be getting more complicated due to SP’s demand for 10 seats in Maharashtra.
BJP will face tough challenge on many seats
The nine assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh where by-elections are to be held include Katehari, Sisamau, Karhal, Khair, Manjhwa, Phulpur, Ghaziabad City, Mirapur and Kundarki seats. Since the matter of Milkipur seat is still in the court, the date of election for this seat has not been announced yet. Experts say that Meerapur seat of Muzaffarnagar is likely to go to Rashtriya Lok Dal.
In the recently held meeting of top BJP leaders, it has been decided to contest elections on nine seats. However, Nishad Party has also not backed down from its demand of two seats. Among the seats where elections are going to be held, BJP will face a tough challenge from SP in Karhal seat which is considered to be the stronghold of Yadav family, Muslim dominated Kundarki and Sisamau seat of Kanpur.
Why is victory in the elections important for CM Yogi?
After the setback in the Lok Sabha elections, the by-election of Uttar Pradesh is being considered very important for Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Yogi wants to once again prove his strength in the state by making BJP win in this by-election. Therefore, he has completed a phase one tour of all the areas even before the dates of assembly by-elections are announced. In recent times, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has laid the foundation stone and inaugurated development plans worth more than five thousand crores in these areas.
A big reason for Yogi giving importance to the assembly by-elections is that Yogi is well aware that if the election results are not in favor of BJP, then questions will again be raised about his leadership. This type of question was raised even after BJP’s crushing defeat in the Lok Sabha elections, but ultimately he was successful in saving his seat. Now if Yogi is not successful in showing his strength in the assembly by-elections, then political difficulties may definitely increase for him.
Akhilesh again trusts PDA
On the other hand, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has also started trying to show his strength once again before the 2027 assembly elections. Samajwadi Party also does not want to let the enthusiasm generated by the victory during the Lok Sabha elections weaken. SP has already declared its candidates for six assembly seats. Political experts say that Akhilesh Yadav will increase his activism after the seat sharing formula is decided by Congress.
The PDA formula of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav was a big hit during the Lok Sabha elections and hence Akhilesh wants to adopt this formula during the assembly by-elections also. They also want to prove that the success of the Lok Sabha elections was not accidental. Now it remains to be seen who among Yogi Adityanath and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav will be able to show his strength and strengthen his political stature.
