By-elections have been held on 9 assembly seats of Uttar Pradesh, but political pundits are entangled in the mathematics of victory and defeat. Due to political equations, SP is now in danger of defeat on those seats on which it was confident of victory before voting. In the by-elections, there was more voting on the assembly seats held by SP as compared to other seats. Despite this, SP has written a letter to the Election Commission demanding re-voting in Meerapur, Kundarki, Sisamau and Katehari seats. In such a situation, the question arises that despite high voting, why has SP’s political tension increased and is demanding by-election again?
During the by-elections on nine assembly seats of UP, the highest voting took place in Kundarki seat. There was 57.7 percent voting in Kundarki seat. Similarly, voting was 57.1 percent in Meerapur seat, 56.9 percent in Katehari, 54.1 percent in Karhal and 49.1 percent in Sisamau. Voting was 33.3 percent in Ghaziabad, 46.3 percent in Khair, 43.4 percent in Phulpur and 50.4 percent in Majhwan.
SP’s tension increased even after high voting
In the by-election, there was more than 50 percent voting in all the seats held by SP, while there was less than 50 percent voting in the seats held by BJP. RLD had won Meerapur seat in 2022 with the support of SP. SP has been dominant due to 62 percent Muslim voters in Kundarki, 40 percent in Meerapur and 50 percent Muslim voters in Sisamau. SP MLAs are being elected from Karhal, Sisamau, Katehari and Kundarki seats. Due to this, it was being said that it is very difficult for BJP to win these seats of SP. What happened in the by-election that Akhilesh Yadav’s tension increased? SP’s claims of victory have turned into a tone of complaint.
Haji Rizwan, SP candidate from Kundarki seat, has written a letter demanding the Election Commission to cancel the by-election and conduct re-polling at all the booths. Not only this, SP’s National General Secretary Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav has raised questions on the police administration and demanded re-voting on four seats. He said that what the police did in Meerapur, Kundarki, Sisamau and Katehari seats is an alarm bell for the public system. Muslims were prevented from voting on these seats at gunpoint, for which the by-elections should be canceled and re-elections should be held under the supervision of paramilitary forces.
Whether the by-elections are canceled or not, the tension of SP has increased. The way SP leaders complained to the Election Commission, an attempt is being made to show that there were irregularities during voting. However, whenever such allegations are made, the narrative is created that the one who is losing makes such allegations. BJP has started saying that SP is clean in the by-elections. The question arises that what is the reason that the political challenge of SP has increased with the by-elections.
Muslim voters divided on Meerapur and Kundarki seats
Except RLD in Meerapur and BJP in Kundarki, all the parties had fielded Muslim candidates. In Meerapur, RLD had fielded Mithlesh Pal and in Kundarki seat, BJP had fielded Thakur Ramveer Singh. BJP has claimed that the Muslim community has also given a good amount of votes to their candidate in Meerapur. Apart from this, Muslim vote is divided between SP, BSP, AAP and AIMIM. Because Haji Rizwan belonged to the Muslim Turk community, other Muslim communities could not join him. Especially Muslim Rajput voters were seen mobilized in favor of BJP, because BJP candidate Ramveer Singh Thakur is continuously focusing on them.
Muslim voters are also divided between opposition parties in Meerapur assembly seat. In Muslim dominated villages Kakrauli, Sikri, Meerapur, Jatwada, Jauli, Muslim votes were seen divided between SP, BSP and ASP. SP candidate Sumbul Rana comes from Muslim Rangad community while BSP’s Shahnazar is Muslim Jhojha. The election was being held between Rangad versus Jhojha Muslim. However, after the stone pelting in Kakrauli, the Muslim community was definitely seen mobilized in favor of SP, but the strictness of the administration slowed down the pace of their voting.
Strict action taken in Sisamau, voting affected
Muslim voters may not be divided in Sisamau assembly seat, but due to the strictness of the administration, voting at Muslim dominated booths has not been as expected. On the day of voting in Sisamau, angry people blocked the way to the tomb in Gwaltoli area by placing barricades all around, accused the police of stopping voters from voting and created a ruckus. Similar cases have come to light at many places, due to which the path of SP has become difficult.
SP made allegations of fake voting in Karhal
People made allegations of fake voting at many places in Karhal. Not only this, there were many complaints of stopping Muslim voters. Police took away many booth agents and destroyed their bags. Apart from this, the votes of the SP candidate from the Kurmi community, a cognate of the Kurmi community, were seen getting divided between BSP and SP. Apart from this, in the UP by-elections, there was heavy voting in the areas with Hindu voters, while there was no voting in the areas with Muslim candidates.
Division of Muslim votes creates tension for SP
In the UP by-election, there was a direct contest between BJP and SP on Karhal, Kundarki and Sisamau seats, while a direct contest was considered between RLD and SP on Mirapur seat. In such a situation, Muslim votes are seen getting divided, due to which the political tension of SP has increased. BJP’s victory is considered certain due to the division of Muslim votes. Apart from this, allegations were made by SP leaders that the administration did not allow the voters supporting them to reach the booth.
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav had said a day before voting that this by-election is going to witness the toughest by-elections since independence. This is not a by-election but will decide the future course of UP. Akhilesh Yadav had described the by-election as the most difficult election and ultimately it has become a really difficult election for SP, because the seats won in 2022 seem to be slipping out of its hands.
