Lok Sabha by-polls in UP to test Yogi and opposition unity

By-polls in the two Lok Sabha constituencies of Gorakhpur and Phulpur in Uttar Pradesh would not only test chief minister Yogi Adityanath and his party but also the much talked about and possible opposition unity.

Now that both—Adityanath, who represented Gorakhpur in Lok Sabha and deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya, who represented Phulpur— were elected to the UP legislative council, by-polls would be held on both seats.

Although the dates for the by-polls have not yet been announced, both the BJP and the opposition parties have shifted gears and started their preparations.

As both the seats fall in the eastern UP region, the results of the two by-polls would also be an indicator of things to come in the bigger battle in 2019.

For Adityanath, Gorakhpur, which he had represented since 1998, would be a huge test, especially since BJP would have to field someone, who was not associated with the Gorakshnath Peeth, of which Adityanath is the 'Mahant' (chief). The Peeth wielded considerable influence in Gorakhpur and also in some adjoining districts.

Adityanath had won the seat by over 3.13 lakh votes in 2014 Lok Sabha elections. BJP, keeping in mind the caste calculations, inducted Shiv Pratap Shukla in the union cabinet in the recent expansion.

BJP emerged victorious in Phulpur for the first time in 2014 and now the party was faced with the daunting task of selecting a nominee who matched his stature.

Samajwadi Party (SP) had finished second on both Gorakhpur and Phulpur seats though it trailed by over three lakh votes at both places.

A combined opposition, however, could pose a few problems for the BJP. Though BSP supremo Mayawati has not shown much enthusiasm for forging a grand alliance, sources said that she may not field her candidate in the two by-polls without formally stitching an alliance with SP-Congress.

''We can put up a good fight and could even win the two seats if our votes do not get split,'' said a senior SP leader here.

BJP leader Vijay Bahadur Pathak, however, exuded confidence that the saffron party would win the by-polls comfortably. ''We will win irrespective of combined candidates,'' he said.