NEW DELHI: NDA is aiming to recover from the setback in the Lok Sabha elections, while the SP and Congress-led I.N.D.I.A bloc strive to bolster their standing.
Uttar Pradesh is set to witness another high-stakes NDA vs. I.N.D.I.A. faceoff in the upcoming by-elections for 10 Assembly seats. The outcome could be pivotal for state politics. The contest becomes more intriguing with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) announcing their participation, fielding candidates in all 10 seats, making the by-elections a three-cornered battle.
The BJP-led NDA aims to recover from its Lok Sabha election setback, while the SP and Congress-led I.N.D.I.A. bloc seeks to strengthen its position by increasing its tally. However, seat-sharing talks within the bloc remain unresolved. A source said that Congress initially demanded 5 of the 10 seats for the bypolls, but the Samajwadi Party refused, offering only one seat. Currently, Congress is asking for the Meerapur, Manjhwa, and Phulpur seats, while SP is only willing to offer the Ghaziabad seat.
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav recently stated that the bypoll results will surpass the outcomes of the Lok Sabha election. Meanwhile, a Congress leader mentioned that seatsharing with the SP will be finalised once the Election Commission issues a notification.
Traditionally, the BSP has not participated in bypolls, but the shift of Dalit votes to the I.N.D.I.A. bloc in the Lok Sabha election has prompted a change. BSP chief Mayawati intends to reassure party supporters of her commitment following their lack of success in the Lok Sabha elections. BSP also seeks to prevent its votes from shifting to the NDA and I.N.D.I.A .bloc.
I.P. Singh, the National Spokesperson of SP, said that the party plans to challenge the NDA using its proven PDA formula (Pichda, Dalits, and Alpsahkhyaks). This strategy previously helped the party to become the single-largest party in Uttar Pradesh, securing 37 Lok Sabha seats. He added, “SP will contest the majority of the seats in the by-election and will secure victories in all of them.”
Aditya Rathi, a political analyst, said that the bypoll results will set the tone for the 2027 U.P. Assembly election. If the NDA retains its 2022 seats and penetrates I.N.D.I.A. bloc strongholds, it will significantly boost BJP’s morale. Conversely, a defeat could cause unrest within the party. If the I.N.D.I.A. bloc wins, it will gain momentum in its strategy to unseat the BJP-led NDA in 2027.