Milkipur sidelines bicycle, turns saffron: BJP's record-breaking victory over SP in bypoll
BJP's Hindutva and development narrative trounced SP's PDA strategy, securing a record-breaking 61,710 vote victory in Milkipur bypolls.
Uttar Pradesh: In a historic electoral triumph, the BJP secured a landslide victory in Milkipur bypolls, defeating the Samajwadi Party (SP) by a staggering 61,710 votes. The BJP's Hindutva and development-driven strategy crushed SP's Picchda-Dalit-Alpasankhyak (PDA) formula, shifting voter preference in Ayodhya’s Milkipur
BJP’s thumping victory in Milkipur
The Milkipur assembly bypolls were necessitated after SP MLA Awadhesh Prasad vacated his seat upon winning the Faizabad (Ayodhya) parliamentary seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. BJP’s Chandrabhanu Paswan emerged victorious, defeating SP’s Ajit Prasad by a massive margin. The victory is seen as a response to BJP’s Lok Sabha loss in Faizabad, realigning voter sentiment in Ayodhya.
भाजपा की यह प्रचण्ड विजय आदरणीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी के यशस्वी मार्गदर्शन के प्रति अडिग जन विश्वास की एक झांकी है।
— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) February 8, 2025
आपके नेतृत्व में भाजपा के द्वारा किए गए सेवा, सहयोग के कार्यों के प्रति जनता का आशीर्वाद है।
आपकी शुभेच्छाओं के लिए हार्दिक आभार माननीय राष्ट्रीय… https://t.co/JDaL2P7ulx
Hindutva, development & 'Katenge to Batenge' narrative seals win
Political analysts define BJP’s win as a triumph of Hindutva and development over SP’s PDA (Picchda-Dalit-Alpasankhyak) strategy. The 'Katenge to Batenge' rhetoric, aimed at consolidating Hindu votes, played a crucial role in securing this victory. BJP leaders emphasized their pro-development approach, capitalizing on voters’ belief that aligning with the ruling party would ensure growth in Milkipur.
SP's PDA strategy fails to resonate
SP’s campaign focused on constitutional change fears, stray cattle issues, and caste-based alliances. However, these failed to strike a chord with voters, who overwhelmingly backed the BJP’s governance model. BJP MP Dinesh Sharma called the win a "clear rejection of SP’s dominance", as the lead widened in each successive counting round.
पीडीए की बढ़ती शक्ति का सामना भाजपा वोट के बल पर नहीं कर सकती है, इसीलिए वो चुनावी तंत्र का दुरुपयोग करके जीतने की कोशिश करती है।
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) February 8, 2025
ऐसी चुनावी धांधली करने के लिए जिस स्तर पर अधिकारियों की हेराफेरी करनी होती है, वो 1 विधानसभा में तो भले किसी तरह संभव है, लेकिन 403 विधानसभाओं में…
Caste equation swings in BJP’s favor
Unlike the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where OBC and Dalit votes helped SP’s Awadhesh Prasad, the bypolls saw a major caste realignment:
- Brahmins & Thakurs united behind the BJP.
- Chaurasiyas & Pals (OBC groups) shifted towards BJP.
- Dalit votes split into three sections, with two-thirds going to BJP.
- Yadavs and Muslims remained SP’s core voters but failed to counter BJP’s surge.
- Milkipur has approximately 3.5 lakh voters, comprising 1 lakh Dalits, 80,000 Yadavs & Muslims, and 1 lakh Brahmins & Thakurs. Observers credited CM Yogi Adityanath’s strategic caste management for BJP’s sweeping victory.
SP cries foul, BJP calls it a mandate for development
While BJP leaders hailed the win as validation of their governance model, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and MP Awadhesh Prasad alleged electoral malpractices. Congress leader Sanjay Tiwari called the election process "compromised and detrimental to democracy." However, UP minister OP Rajbhar dismissed the allegations, stating that the public has chosen development and Hindutva over caste-based politics.
