Chandrabhanu Paswan Secures Milkipur with Commanding Victory
The recent by-election in the Milkipur assembly constituency of Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya district concluded with a significant victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party. BJP candidate Chandrabhanu Paswan won a decisive mandate, garnering 145,893 votes compared to the 84,687 secured by his main contender from the Samajwadi Party, Ajit Prasad. This resulted in a substantial winning margin of 61,639 votes, demonstrating BJP's robust return to dominance in the area.
This election followed the vacancy generated by SP's Awadhesh Prasad, who left to vie for a Lok Sabha seat from Faizabad. The by-election was seen as a critical contest, not just politically but also symbolically, considering Ayodhya's historical and cultural significance. The competition was intense, framed as a high-stakes struggle for control over the region.
Voter Turnout and Battle for Influence
The election saw a significant voter turnout of 65.35%. This marked an increase from the 60.23% turnout observed during the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. The rise in voter engagement highlighted the heightened interest and significance tied to this by-election. The demographic dynamics played a crucial role, with the constituency's large Dalit population—dominated by the Pasi community—becoming a focal point in the selection of candidates for both parties.
Allegations from the Samajwadi Party of electoral misconduct, including claims of vote rigging and harassment by BJP, emerged as hot topics post-election. However, BJP dismissed these accusations, asserting their adherence to legal norms and the democratic process.
Chandrabhanu Paswan's lead across all 29 rounds of counting illustrated BJP's effective campaign strategy and outreach efforts in the constituency. With this victory, the BJP not only regained a valuable political seat but also re-established its stronghold in Ayodhya, which stands in contrast to the loss they faced in this very constituency in 2022.
This electoral win reinforces BJP's ongoing influence in the Ayodhya region, pivotal both for state politics and the broader national narrative that the party aims to shape. As political dynamics continue to evolve, this by-election serves as a microcosm of larger political contests playing out across various parts of the country.