The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a decisive victory in the high-stakes Milkipur Assembly by-election, delivering a major blow to the Samajwadi Party (SP) in what had become a fiercely contested battle of prestige. When the final results were declared on Saturday, BJP candidate Chandrabhan Paswan emerged triumphant with a commanding lead of over 60,000 votes against SP’s Ajit Prasad after 30 rounds of counting. The emphatic win not only reasserts BJP’s dominance in the politically significant Ayodhya district but also serves as a morale booster for the party following its unexpected defeat in the Faizabad Lok Sabha seat in 2024.
The Milkipur Assembly seat, part of the broader Faizabad constituency, had turned into a symbolic electoral showdown between the BJP and SP. The by-election was necessitated after sitting MLA and veteran SP leader Awadhesh Prasad contested and won the Faizabad Lok Sabha seat, unseating the BJP despite the highly publicized inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. To hold on to its stronghold, the SP fielded Awadhesh Prasad’s son, Ajit Prasad, in the bypoll, hoping to capitalize on his father’s goodwill and the party’s traditional voter base. However, the BJP executed an aggressive campaign, consolidating support among key voter groups and turning the tide in its favor.
Following the victory, BJP leaders celebrated the win as an indication of the party’s enduring popularity and a preview of what’s to come in the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya did not hold back in his remarks, declaring that the Milkipur bypoll result was merely a “trailer” of the larger electoral picture that would unfold in three years. Taking a direct jibe at the Samajwadi Party, he said, “Abhi jhaaki hai, poori picture abhi baaki hai.” (This is just the trailer; the whole picture will be revealed in 2027 when the Samajwadi Party will be reduced to nothing.) His statement underscores the BJP’s confidence in maintaining its stronghold in Uttar Pradesh, where it has been in power since 2017.
The lead-up to the bypoll had been marked by controversy and political maneuvering. BJP’s 2022 Milkipur candidate, Baba Gorakhnath, had filed a writ petition challenging Awadhesh Prasad’s previous victory, questioning the authenticity of his nomination documents. This legal battle caused a delay in the Election Commission of India (ECI) announcing the bypoll. However, once Gorakhnath withdrew his petition, the election body set February 5 as the polling date, paving the way for a fierce electoral contest.
For the BJP, this victory is about much more than just reclaiming a single Assembly seat—it is a carefully strategized move to reassert its dominance in a region that holds immense political and religious significance. The party had faced unexpected setbacks in Ayodhya, particularly in the Faizabad Lok Sabha seat, where its defeat raised concerns about its voter outreach despite the Ram Temple's grand inauguration. By winning the Milkipur bypoll, the BJP has signaled its ability to mobilize support at the grassroots level and counter the opposition’s influence.
On the other hand, the loss in Milkipur raises serious concerns for the Samajwadi Party. While the party had managed to stun the BJP in the Faizabad parliamentary elections, its failure to retain the Milkipur Assembly seat suggests that its grip on its strongholds may be weakening. The decision to field Awadhesh Prasad’s son, Ajit Prasad, was meant to leverage the family’s legacy and consolidate caste-based support, particularly among the Pasi community. However, the BJP’s effective outreach and its ability to sway crucial voter segments led to a landslide defeat for the SP candidate.
The results have also reignited the debate over the opposition’s ability to effectively challenge the BJP in Uttar Pradesh. With the 2027 Assembly elections drawing closer, the SP will need to reassess its strategy and strengthen its ground-level organization to counter the BJP’s formidable election machinery. The party’s leadership will now face the challenge of maintaining its momentum in key constituencies while addressing the weaknesses exposed by the Milkipur bypoll loss.
Meanwhile, the BJP’s triumph in Milkipur is expected to bolster its confidence as it gears up for future electoral battles. With the Ram Temple issue still playing a crucial role in Uttar Pradesh’s political discourse, the party will likely continue leveraging its development agenda, Hindutva narrative, and welfare schemes to solidify its voter base.
As the dust settles on the Milkipur by-election, the results serve as an early indicator of the evolving political dynamics in Uttar Pradesh. While the BJP celebrates its resurgence in the region, the Samajwadi Party now faces a critical period of introspection and strategizing. The battle for Uttar Pradesh is far from over, and both parties will be looking to sharpen their electoral playbooks as they prepare for the high-stakes 2027 Assembly elections.
