Party wins 21 seats unopposed

Earlier, the BJP won 21 seats unopposed after several Opposition candidates switched over and withdrew from the contest, leading to allegations of “kidnapping and use of force” against it by the SP.

With this, 67 of the 75 candidates backed by the saffron party and its ally Apna Dal won, including in the prestigious Gorakhpur and Varanasi.

Main rival in UP, the Samajwadi Party, could manage only five, RLD one and others two.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath called it an indication of the people’s confidence in 'sushashan’ of the ruling BJP.

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 3

Following days of high drama laced with claims, counter-claims and allegations between the two main contenders -- the BJP and the SP -- the saffron party today registered a thumping victory in the Uttar Pradesh Zila panchayat elections.

Ahead of the high-stake elections in the state next year, the beleaguered ruling party received a shot in the arm by winning 46 of the 53 posts, the elections for which were held today.

Earlier, the BJP won 21 seats unopposed after several Opposition candidates switched over and withdrew from the contest, leading to allegations of “kidnapping and use of force” against it by the SP. With this, 67 of the 75 candidates backed by the saffron party and its ally Apna Dal won, including in the prestigious Gorakhpur and Varanasi. Main rival in UP, the Samajwadi Party, could manage only five, RLD one and others two.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath called it an indication of the people’s confidence in 'sushashan’ of the ruling BJP. Congratulating winners, Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya tweeted “kaho dil se, 2022 pe bhajapa phir se”. Incidentally, “kaho dil se, Akhilesh phir se” is also the slogan of SP.

Crying foul, Yadav charged the BJP with “making a mockery of the elections”, alleging that the party “kidnapped” voters and used “force” with the “help of police and administration to stop them from voting”.

Political analyst Sudhir Panwar, who is also associated with the SP, said “BJP’s massive victory was in confrontation with people's mandate in panchayat elections in April. The rural electorate is feeling cheated and is determined to teach the BJP a lesson in Assembly polls, next year”. The rural body polls had become a prestige issue for the ruling BJP.

The elections were primarily a contest between the BJP and the SP and its ally RLD. Mayawati-led BSP boycotted the elections, citing misuse of official machinery and the Congress lost the only seat it contested in Rae Bareli, the bastion of the Gandhi family.