UP By-Elections: How Much Will BJP’s Hard Work on 10 Seats Pay Off?

Lucknow: The BJP has put all its effort into the upcoming by-elections on 10 assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, along with his senior ministers, has taken charge of the election campaigns on all these seats. While the success of BJP’s efforts will be revealed in the future, party workers appear highly enthusiastic. This is evident from the fact that there is a rush of candidates vying for tickets within the party itself. Before facing the opposition, BJP candidates are witnessing an internal battle over ticket distribution. The internal conflict over tickets is so intense that candidates are revealing each other’s shortcomings.

For instance, in the Katehari seat of Ambedkar Nagar, the local BJP unit has split into two factions over ticket issues. Both factions have sent a bundle of complaints against each other to the BJP leadership. Recently, the state organization summoned the complainants to the party headquarters and tried to counsel them. Even during the visit of party officials to Ambedkar Nagar, they advised them to maintain calm. However, the discord continues.

Sources suggest that some prominent figures outside the party are also hoping to get tickets. In seats like Katehari, Ghaziabad, Phulpur, and Majhwa, two senior BJP leaders are lobbying from Lucknow to Delhi to secure tickets for external candidates. In Meerapur, former MP Malook Nagar and former MLA Rajpal Saini are requesting tickets for their sons, while sitting MP Chandan Chauhan is pushing for a ticket for his wife.

Meanwhile, the BJP’s allies are also creating roadblocks over seat distribution. This has added to the party’s difficulties in finalizing tickets. Cabinet Minister and Nishad Party President Sanjay Nishad is demanding the Katehari and Majhwa seats, while the RLD is staking its claim over both the Meerapur and Khair seats, leaving the BJP in a dilemma. Although there is a tussle for all the seats, the real internal battle within the BJP is for the Katehari and Milkipur seats. Several ministers and senior party officials are leaving no stone unturned to secure tickets for their close associates on these two seats, making it difficult for the top leadership to finalize candidates.

The fierce competition for tickets in Milkipur and Katehari is attributed to the fact that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has personally taken charge of election management for these two seats, leading the candidates to believe their victory is assured. Yogi’s focus on these seats has significantly changed the political atmosphere, increasing the hopes of BJP and allied party candidates. According to sources, a former MP is keen on fielding one of his close associates in Milkipur, while a minister in charge of the Katehari seat is also exerting full effort to secure a ticket for his favorite candidate. Several other senior party officials are also in the race for tickets. Apart from the Nishad Party’s claim over the Katehari seat, half a dozen BJP leaders are also vying for a ticket.