Today its results – the very important by-elections – for Uttar Pradesh’s Milkipur and Tamil Nadu’s Erode East constituencies – as well as major anticipated result – the Delhi Assembly election – are expected to be posted. The vote counting for both bypolls commenced at 8 AM, beginning with postal ballots and followed by the counting of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) votes. These by-elections took place on February 5, with good voter turnouts in both constituencies.
Milkipur Bypoll: A Prestige Battle in Ayodhya District
The by-poll in Milkipur district of a politically reckonsworth district (Ayodhya) was held due, as the Samajwadi Party (SP) member Awadhesh Prasad vacated the seat following his success in the Faizabad (Ayodhya) Lok Sabha election in 2019. Awadhesh Prasad had won the Milkipur seat in the 2022 Assembly elections, defeating BJP’s Gorakhnath.
With the ruling BJP aiming to reclaim lost ground and the Samajwadi Party striving to retain its dominance, the Milkipur bypoll turned into a fierce political showdown. Nineteen candidates ran for office but the fight between the BJP’s Chandrabhanu Paswan and the SP’s Ajit Prasad is the most critical one.
Early Trends Indicate BJP’s Lead
Based on provisional trend results, the BJP has secured an early lead and bagged 6,082 votes, whereas the Samajwadi Party candidate lags by 3,991 votes. The BJP’s success in Milkipur has been taken as a major political development, especially since it was the only seat the party lost in Ayodhya district in the 2022 Assembly elections.
The voter turnout for the Milkipur bypoll stood at *65%, surpassing the participation recorded in the 2022 Assembly elections. Vociferous campaigning of the BJP on the ground and the focus on the Ayodhya (the construction of the Ram Mandir) is the reason behind the BJP’s lopsided performance.
Erode East Bypoll: A Close Contest Between DMK and NTK
The election to the Erode East Assembly constituency was undertaken following the death of the Congress MLA EVKS Elangovan on December 14, 2024. The constituency saw a crowded race with 46 candidates, including 44 independents. However, the primary contest is between the ruling DMK’s VC Chandirakumar and the Tamil nationalist party Naam Tamizhar Katchi (NTK)’s M K Seethalakshmi.
High Turnout Despite Boycott by AIADMK and BJP
The Erode East constituency recorded an impressive 67.97% voter turnout on February 5, despite major political parties like the AIADMK and BJP boycotting the bypoll. Due to the absence of AIADMK and BJP, the canvas remained fallow for DMK and NTK to fight it out against each other.
The DMK’s VC Chandirakumar is hoping on the party’s good representation in the area and the aura created by the acts of Chief Minister MK Stalin’s government,” says the sentence. On the other hand, NTK’s Seethalakshmi is gaining traction among young and nationalist voters, presenting a challenge to the ruling party.
Political Implications of the Bypoll Results
The outcome of these bypolls is already being closely observed as they are very significant politically:.
- Milkipur (UP): A BJP victory here would signal a consolidation of its hold in Ayodhya and surrounding regions ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. Retaining the seat is of utmost importance to preserve the relevance of Samajwadi Party in the political sphere of the state.
- Erode East (Tamil Nadu): The contest serves as a test for the ruling DMK’s strength in Tamil Nadu. Excellent performance of NTK possibly reflects the rising support for Tamil nationalist parties and may change the future electoral landscape of the state.
As of now, vote counting is still in progress but the final tally will shape the political scene in both states. Stay tuned for more updates on the bypoll results.
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