Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's strategic approach proved to be instrumental in the recent by-election victories of BJP candidates Padmasen Chowdhary and Manvendra Singh. The Samajwadi Party, on the other hand, faced defeat on both seats, experiencing a setback in the municipal vote counting as well, losing all 17 seats.
The by-election results showcased the dominance of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh politics. Manvendra Singh secured 280 votes, while Padmasen Chowdhary received 279 votes, both emerging winners. The total voter turnout for the by-election reached 396, with only one vote being declared invalid. In contrast, the Samajwadi Party's candidates, Ramkaran Nirmal and Ramjatan Rajbhar, received 116 and 115 votes, respectively.
The seats had fallen vacant due to the appointment of Laxman Acharya as the Governor of Sikkim and the demise of Banwari Lal Dohre.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath played an active role in the electoral process. He arrived at the Vidhan Bhavan early in the morning and cast his vote, setting an example for other MLAs. Notably, out of the 403 MLAs in Uttar Pradesh, an overwhelming majority of 396 participated in the voting process, displaying the significance of the by-elections.
It is worth mentioning that several MLAs abstained from voting, impacting the outcome of the by-election. Among those who chose not to cast their ballots were SP MLAs Ramakant Yadav, Irfan Solanki, and Manoj Paras, Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party MLA Abbas Ansari, Congress MLA Anuradha Mishra 'Mona,' Farenda MLA Virendra Chaudhury, and Umashankar Singh.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's success in the civic elections further bolstered his strategy for the by-elections. He actively engaged with the MLAs and held direct discussions with them on May 28, outlining a path to victory. His hands-on approach and meticulous planning have evidently yielded positive results for the BJP.
The by-elections were conducted to fill the vacant seats in the Legislative Council following the passing of Banwari Lal Dohra and Laxman Acharya's appointment as the Governor of Sikkim. The newly elected members, Padmasen Chowdhary and Manvendra Singh, hold positions of prominence within the BJP, with Padmasen Chowdhary serving as the State Vice President.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath conveyed his congratulations to the winners through a tweet. He expressed his heartfelt congratulations to both Padamsen Chaudhary and Manvendra Singh, referring to them as candidates of the "double-engine government".
The chief minister expressed confidence in their ability to contribute to the vision of the respected Prime Minister, leveraging their public conduct, hard work, and experience for the realization of an "Atmanirbhar Uttar Pradesh". He extended his best wishes for a successful tenure to all concerned parties involved in the by-elections.