By Pradeep Kapoor
LUCKNOW: With victory in five out of 11 seats in MLC elections (teachers and graduate constituencies) Samajwadi Party and its national president Akhilesh Yadav have all the more reasons to celebrate. Samajwadi Party won in Varanasi where PM Modi is MP similarly the party also got one seat in Lucknow where Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is MP. Yogi Adityanath could barely ensure victory for party candidate by a very narrow margin of two hundred votes only
While Samajwadi Party increased its tally from three in 2020 to five, BJP could retain its tally of six. These elections assumed importance as instead of EVM, ballot papers were used. More so the voters were literate as the elections were held for graduate and teachers constituencies.
Of the six Teachers’ seats, BJP won four while Samajwadi Party won two seats. In the Graduates constituencies, BJP has two while SP also got two seats. The defeat for BJP candidate in Varanasi is all the more shocking for BJP and the Sangh Parivar because of PM Narendra Modi who represent the Holy city in Lok Sabha. BJP has not learnt lesson from Lok Sabha polls 2024 when the victory margin of PM Narendra Modi substantially decreased since 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Despite the involvement of senior BJP leaders and members of Sangh Parivar who campaigned for BJP in the Holy City, the margin of lead of Samajwadi Party in recounting was very impressive. The results of elections for 11 MLC seats despite BJP retaining the same number indicate great anti-incumbency against double engine governments of BJP at the centre as well as in the state.
Samajwadi Party has been able to consolidate its PDA (pichda, dalit and alpsanghkhayak) with additional support of powerful Brahmin community reflected in votes managed by the party. Samajwadi Party alleged that there was large-scale misuse of power by the government and BJP workers were too involved in threatening SP candidate in Agra who was seen crying. Ultimately SP candidate won the election.
Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya acknowledged the victory of Samajwadi Party in those places where they had not won previously. NDA partner and cabinet minister Om Prakash Rajbhar of Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party also congratulated Samajwadi Party for an impressive victory.
At a time when smaller parties are mounting pressure for better deal in seat sharing for forthcoming assembly polls scheduled in 2027, the greetings from Om Prakash Rajbhar has assumed importance.
Samajwadi Party national President Akhilesh thanked the voters and announced that all those MLCs from his party who won the elections would felicitated. He also asked to prepare list of all those party workers and leaders who help them and invite during felicitation.
There is no doubt the victory of Samajwadi Party in MLC elections has boosted the morale of party leaders which will play important role in preparing for road map for forthcoming assembly polls crucial for party as well.
The visit of Union Home minister Amit Shah to Lucknow on October 30 and his address to state executive has assumed importance in view of narrow win in Gorakhpur and defeat in Varanasi represented by none other Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Lok Sabha. Now BJP’s chanakya will take over the responsibility to carry forward the party for third term in UP. (IPA Service)
