The political influence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will face a significant test on Wednesday as bypolls to nine Assembly seats are held in the state. Adityanath, who conceived and led the BJP’s campaign, is under pressure to prove his political acumen following the party’s poor performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The loss triggered internal divisions, with some speculating a rift between Adityanath and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over poll strategies, especially after Shah’s choice of candidates, many of whom lost.
The outcome of these bypolls is seen as crucial for Adityanath’s future role within the party, although he has strong backing from the RSS. Recently, RSS leader Dattatreya Hosabale publicly supported Adityanath’s controversial “batenge to katenge” slogan, further solidifying his position within the Sangh Parivar.
The BJP-led NDA previously held five of the nine seats — Ghaziabad, Khair, Meerapur, Majhwa, and Phulpur — all vacated when sitting MLAs won parliamentary seats. Adityanath’s challenge is to retain these five seats and capture the remaining four — Katheri, Karhal, Kundarki, and Sisamau — from the Samajwadi Party (SP).
As the sole star campaigner for the BJP, the responsibility falls on Adityanath, who held 13 rallies and roadshows during the campaign. The results will determine whether the SP can increase its representation in the Assembly.
Currently, the BJP holds 251 seats in the 403-member Assembly, followed by the SP with 105. Other parties in the Assembly include the Apna Dal (Soneylal) with 13 seats, RLD with 8, SBSP with 6, Nishad Party with 5, and smaller regional parties and independents. The bypolls are set to be a direct contest between the BJP and the SP, with the Congress sitting out in solidarity with the SP.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah did not campaign in the bypolls, with the BJP’s strategy allowing CM Yogi to lead the charge.
Dr. Vaibhav Goel ( Writer is associated with Legal Boundary as Freelancer.)
