10 assembly seats in UP will go to by-elections. The electoral calendar for the by-election has yet to be announced and the political temperature is already starting to heat up. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has taken charge of the state’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) himself, while Akhilesh Yadav has also become active.
A day after the Haryana election results, the Samajwadi Party (SP) announced its candidates list for six out of 10 seats in its own way, while the Congress struck a soft tone. Mayawati-led Samajwadi Party (BSP) and Advocate Chandrashekhar-led Samajwadi Party (ASP) are also preparing to field candidates in the by-elections. Which party faces what dangers in the 10-seat by-election?
1- Credit
The credibility of political parties ranging from the Janata Dal to the Samajwadi Party and the Janata Dal is at stake in the by-elections to 10 seats in Uttar Pradesh. In the recent Lok Sabha elections, the Socialist Party won 37 seats and became the largest party, while the People’s Party’s convoy only won 33 seats. In this context, the challenge for the SP is to prove that the results of the Lok Sabha elections were not a fluke. Meanwhile, the BJP’s strategy is to recover from its defeat in the Lok Sabha elections and take revenge in the by-elections. This is why CM Yogi himself holds rallies in by-election seats and why big leaders and ministers of the UP government keep visiting these seats.
2- who are public leaders
In these by-elections, there is a battle on the public, public support front. For Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who is the most popular in the country by all surveys, these by-elections will also be like a litmus test of his own acceptance and popularity. Meanwhile, the Samajwadi Party is trying to sway public opinion in Akhilesh Yadav’s favor by winning more seats in the by-elections. The Samajwadi Party of the Philippines faces the challenge of proving that Mayawati remains relevant in Uttar Pradesh politics after she was reduced to zero in the recent Lok Sabha election results.
3- voting basis
From the People’s Party to the Socialist Party, the People’s Party and the ASP, the test for all parties will also be on the ballot front. The SP is also trying to maintain continuity in its PDA (Backward, Dalit and Minority) equation in the by-elections. Its impression is clearly visible in the announced lists of candidates for six seats. For the BJP, meanwhile, it will also be a test of the equation of non-Jatav Dalit votes with non-Yadav OBCs and general voters. After the failure of the Dalit-Muslim equation, Mayawati’s party will look for a new formula for social engineering.
4- True or false, fight for survival
There is also a dispute between truth and falsehood in the UP by-election. While the Socialist Party of the Philippines claims to be the genuine party of the Ambedkarite movement, the Liberal Socialist Party, led by advocate Chandra Shekhar, also claims to have the Dalit vote bank. The Mayawati Party, which usually stays away from by-elections, announced its candidate before the election schedule was announced this time. The dispute between the real and fake Dalit parties between the BSP and the ASP is also believed to be the reason behind this. For Congress, these by-elections will also be a battle to prove its existence after getting a boost from the general election results.
Also read: “Uttar Pradesh will have an alliance between Samajwadi Party and Congress,” Akhilesh said after announcing candidates for 6 bypoll seats.
5- Organizational testing
In the Lok Sabha election results, the PPP won fewer seats than the Socialist Party. Prime Minister Modi’s 400-pass slogan and organizational laxity are responsible for this. In the by-elections, the BJP will also face the challenge of keeping its organization active and bringing as many voters as possible from their homes to polling stations and casting their votes. Like the BJP, these by-elections are considered a good opportunity for parties like the Samajwadi Party and the Janata Party to gauge the strength of the organisation.
Also read: BJP to adopt ‘Haryana model’ in Uttar Pradesh by-elections, has this special plan in mind
6- The battle of perceptions
Politics in UP has revolved around the Rama temple issue in Ayodhya for many years. Despite the construction of the Rama temple, the BJP suffered a defeat in the Faizabad seat where Ayodhya city is located in the recent Lok Sabha elections. Ever since the Samajwadi Party’s victory in Faizabad, Ram has been trying to corner the BJP in the political arena. After the Faizabad defeat, the BJP is on the back foot in the perception battle and is now trying to gain ground in the perception battle by winning the Mirkipur seat that fell vacant due to the resignation of MP Awadhesh Prasad. Take advantage in the battle of knowledge.
Also read: BJP to adopt ‘Haryana model’ in Uttar Pradesh by-elections, has this special plan in mind
7- momentum
Encouraged by the Lok Sabha election results, the Socialist Party is trying to maintain its winning streak. Meanwhile, the PPP is trying to regain momentum. CM Yogi himself has made the Milkipur seat a question of his credibility. The Philippine central bank is also trying to stem the erosion of its support base and win back voters who left. Advocate Chandrashekhar also sought to prove that his victory from Nagina Lok Sabha seat was no fluke despite challenges from all sides.
