In a huge setback to Samajwadi Party, the party lost its bastion Rampur to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and also Akhilesh Yadav’s home turf Azamgarh in the Lok Sabha bypolls, counting of which is being done on Sunday. This was also seen as the first major litmus test for Yogi government 2.0, which it seems to have passed with flying colours.
The Rampur parliamentary seat, which was vacated after the resignation of Azam Khan, was reportedly won by BJP candidate Ghanysham Lodhi by more than 42,000 votes. The official EC announcement is, however, awaited. The SP had fielded Asim Raza on this seat, who was considered a close aide of Azam Khan. In 2019, Azam Khan was elected as an MP from the seat.
In Akhilesh Yadav’s home turf Azamgarh, BJP candidate Dinesh Lal ‘Nirhua’ won. SP had fielded Dharmendra Yadav from this seat. BSP field Shah Alam alias Guddu Jamali from the seat.
Earlier on Sunday morning, SP candidate Dharmendra Yadav accused the administration of changing EVMs. Yadav had a heated argument with the administrative officials and alleged that he was stopped from going inside the counting place. However, later he was allowed to go in the strong form.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the BJP victories in Azampur and Rampur on Twitter, saying that it’s “historic”. “The bypoll wins in Azamgarh and Rampur are historic. It indicates wide-scale acceptance and support for the double engine Governments at the Centre and in UP. Grateful to the people for their support. I appreciate the efforts of our Party Karyakartas,” the PM tweeted.
The by-poll wins in Azamgarh and Rampur are historic. It indicates wide-scale acceptance and support for the double engine Governments at the Centre and in UP. Grateful to the people for their support. I appreciate the efforts of our Party Karyakartas. @BJP4UP— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 26, 2022
Meanwhile, speaking to news agency ANI, UP Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak said, “We’ve won in Rampur. We’re also ahead of others in Azamgarh. I’d like to thank the voters who’re handing us this victory based on PM Modi’s numerous welfare schemes and the performance of the CM. People are sick and tired of the Samajwadi Party. People don’t want any more riots. They want peace. They want development.”
Questions were being raised on the absence of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav from campaigning on either of the seats, whereas UP CM Yogi Adityanath had campaigned on both the seats that went to polls.
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