By Pradeep Kapoor
LUCKNOW: With the victory of BJP in crucial by-election in Milkipur assembly seat in Uttar Pradesh, the saffron brigade has avenged the humiliating defeat in Ayodhya Lok Sabha seat in the 2024 elections at the hands of Samajwadi Party.
The manner in which Ayodhya Lok Sabha seat was won by Samajwadi Party Milkipur MLA Awadesh Prasad in general elections last year shocked the entire saffron brigade which was expecting a wave in favour of BJP in UP in particular and country in general after the construction of Ram Temple at Ayodhya in January 2024.
Samajwadi Party also surprised the nation by its spectacular performance by winning 37 seats out of total 80 seats from the state in Lok Sabha on the combination of PDA (pichda, dalit and alpsangkhayak).
The Milkipur result will certainly strengthen chief minister Yogi Adityanath who himself was monitoring the party’s campaign. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath staked his personal prestige in this by-election and visited Milkipur assembly constituency several times.
As a part of strategy, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath deputed half a dozen senior ministers to campaign and meet different sections of society to campaign for party candidate Chandra Bhanu Paswan.
The defeat of Samajwadi Party candidate Ajeet Prasad, son of Ayodhya MP Awadesh Prasad will certainly demoralise the party president and former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav who was thinking that PDA will bring Samajwadi Party to power in 2027.
Although Samajwadi Party national President Akhilesh Yadav had alleged large scale bungling by BJP with the connivance of the government officials, there was no response from the Election Commission. Large number of complaints were registered with the Election Commission.
Similarly Ayodhya MP and former MLA from Milkipur Awadesh Prasad also alleged that BJP goons captured the booth and manipulated the voting. Samajwadi Party candidate Ajeet Prasad lost in his own polling booth in Inayat Nagar.
Samajwadi Party leader Udaiveer Singh said that BJP leaders joined hands with the Election Commission and mobilised extra 15 per cent voting for BJP candidate. Samajwadi Party submitted the complaints with evidence to the Election Commission but no action was taken. That is why Samajwadi Party said that Election Commission was dead.
Similar allegations of large scale bungling and bogus voting we’re levelled by Congress and Azad Samaj Party of Chandrashekhar Ravan MP. Going by the past records of several decades ,the by-elections are generally won by the ruling party. Few months back also BJP won seven out of nine by-elections for assembly seats.
Now it would be interesting to see future relations between Samajwadi Party and Congress in the state. Samajwadi Party on Saturday launched t its attack against Congress for being B team of BJP which resulted in big defeat of AAP in Delhi.
Earlier Samajwadi Party refused to leave any seat for Congress in by-elections for nine assembly seats few months back. Even then UPCC president Ajai Rai announced full support to Samajwadi Party in Milkipur by-election.
Similarly Azad Samaj Party (Kansiram) led by dalit leader Chandra Shekhar which put up candidate in Milkipur will have to decide which way to go in future. Like Mayawati of BSP Chandra Shekhar Ravan can also join any alliance provided given good number of seats in adjustment.
The biggest challenge is before Samajwadi Party national President to retain dalit votes which enabled him to secure 37 seats in Lok Sabha polls last year. (IPA Service)
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