In what is being hailed as a momentous victory, Samajwadi Party’s Sudhakar Singh clinched a decisive win over Bharatiya Janata Party’s Dara Singh Chauhan in the Ghosi by-elections, Uttar Pradesh, rewriting the political script of the region with a commanding lead of 42,759 votes. This victory saw Singh garnering a total of 124,427 votes to Chauhan’s 81,668.
The high-stakes election was more than a test of individual reputations, symbolising a broader political skirmish with undertones of NDA versus India, with various stalwarts like Om Prakash Rajbhar throwing their weight behind the campaigning. Despite extensive efforts by the BJP, including mobilising a cohort of ministers and organising grand rallies, the party faced a resounding defeat, unable to lead in any voting round.
Samajwadi Party chief, Akhilesh Yadav, welcomed the victory as a triumph of the people, emphasising that the result was not just a political setback for the BJP but a moral one. The win, he noted, was not only for a legislator but echoed as a defeat for many prospective ministers from rival factions.
Yadav’s strategy has centred on fostering new political and social equations in the SP’s favour, employing the ‘PDA’ formula which stood tested and victorious in the Ghosi by-elections. The notable absence of the BSP from the electoral race ignited a fierce battle for the Dalit votes, a demographic which both SP and BSP assiduously courted. With nearly 4.37 lakh voters, including a substantial Dalit, Muslim, and marginalised communities representation, the Ghosi constituency emerged as a critical battlefield to assert political dominion.
As BJP grapples with the loss, its state president Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary maintained a dignified stance, expressing readiness to evaluate the outcomes and strategize anew for serving the Ghosi populace. He extended gratitude towards the Ghosi community and hinted at a robust plan for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Despite the rigorous campaign trails and ministerial visits orchestrating a close touch with various community voters, the BJP could not overcome the SP’s strong foothold. BJP’s ally, Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party chief, Om Prakash Rajbhar, echoed similar sentiments of respecting the people’s verdict and conveyed a resolve to amend any shortfalls ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
As Samajwadi Party celebrates this vital victory, the Ghosi by-election outcomes sound a cautionary tale for Yogi and the BJP, setting a prelude to the fervently awaited 2024 electoral face-off. The decisive win here stands testimony to the shifting sands of Uttar Pradesh’s political landscape, reflecting a substantial public mandate resonating with Samajwadi Party’s visions and efforts.
