Gorakhpur Bypoll: In ‘Unexpected Result’, SP Wins Yogi’s Bastion

UP CM Adityanath said over-confidence and inability to understand the SP-BSP agreement as reasons for BJP’s defeat.

The Quint
India
Updated:
The bypoll was necessitated in Gorakhpur after Yogi Adityanath vacated the Lok Sabha seat to take over as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. 
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The bypoll was necessitated in Gorakhpur after Yogi Adityanath vacated the Lok Sabha seat to take over as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. 
(Photo: Vikrant Dubey)

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Poor Voter Turnout Recorded

Poor polling percentage was recorded in the bypoll to the Lok Sabha seat of Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, 11 March, officials told IANS.

According to Election Commission (EC) officials, 43 percent voters had exercised their franchise in Gorakhpur.

The lowest voter turnout of 33 percent was in Gorakhpur city, and the highest – 47 percent – in Sahjanwa and Campierganj.

(With ANI and PTI inputs)

All You Need to Know

Gorakhpur has 970 polling centres and 2,141 polling stations. There are 19.49 lakh eligible voters, including 8 lakh women.

The BJP's Upendra Dutt Shukla is in the fray in Gorakhpur, which was represented by Adityanath since 1998.

The SP has fielded Praveen Nishad in Gorakhpur. The BSP and the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) have extended support to the SP candidate.

The Congress is going at it alone – and has named Surahita Kareem as its candidate.

Yogi, Akhilesh Confident of Winning Seat

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the BJP will win the Gorakhpur by-elections, despite the poor voter turnout.

After casting his vote on Sunday, 11 March, a beaming Adityanath told reporters, "The BJP continues to get a groundswell of public support since they are witnessing development, peace and prosperity under its government.”

He also denied the influence of the Samajwadi Party-Bahujan Samaj Party alliance on the bypoll results.

This is an unholy and opportunistic alliance and the people know their real agenda very well and will thus defeat them emphatically.
Yogi Adityanath

SP chief and former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav took to Twitter – and claimed that the bypoll outcome would be "historic and a game changer."

Counting Begins

Counting for Gorakhpur by-poll began at 8 am today. Tight security has been deployed at Gorakhpur university where the counting will be held.

(Photo: ANI)

Early Lead for BJP

BJP’s Gorakhpur candidate Upendra Dutt Shukla registered an early lead in UP bypoll, News 18 reported.

SP Candidate Alleges EVM Tampering in Gorakhpur

There Will be Restrictions on Victory Processions: DM

Quoting EC instructions, Gorakhpur District Magistrate Rajiv Routela said that there will be restriction on victory processions after the UP bypoll results are declared this afternoon, NDTV reported.

BJP Leading by 1,666 Votes

The BJP’s Gorakhpur candidate Upendra Dutt Shukla is leading with 15,577 votes. The SP’s Praveen Kumar is on the second spot with 13,911 votes, while the Congress’ Surahita Kareem is on the third spot with 543 votes.

Firmly Believe BJP Will Win Phulpur and Gorakhpur: UP Dy CM

“I firmly believe that we will win both Gorakhpur and Phulpur, the SP is leading in initial rounds but a number of rounds are still left. I know the voters of that area, we will have a win with a comfortable margin of a lakh,” UP Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya said.

UP By-Election Results: SP Leads by 1,523 Votes

The SP has wrested the lead from the BJP in Yogi Adityanath’s bastion in the UP bypolls. SP's Praveen Kumar Nishad is leading by 1,523 with 44,979 votes, BJP's Upendra Dutt Shukla now a close second with 43,456 votes.

Media Barred From Counting Centre? EC Denies

In an anomaly, the media has been barred from reporting trends on Gorakhpur bypolls, according to NDTV. A report added that reporters have been asked by District Magistrate Rajeev Rautela to not enter the counting area.

On Wednesday morning, updates on the counting of votes in Gorakhpur crept slowly.

The Election Commission (EC), however, denied the news.

"Media is inside the counting campus since morning. As per the Election Commission of India’s instructions, the media can't be allowed in the area of EVMs. There is a media centre inside the campus,” an EC official clarified.

The media is being briefed personally by the Gorakhpur DM regarding each round’s progress.
EC official

Earlier, the Gorakhpur DM had told ANI:

“When ARO sends counting figures of any round from the five assembly constituencies, it is scrutinised by the RO,  and two observers scrutinise the counting figures manually and digitally and then sign it. This process takes time. Only then is the counting sheet of the entire Parliamentary constituency finalised,” clarified the Gorakhpur district magistrate.

SP Takes The Lead

After the fourth round of counting, the SP extended its lead to 2,962 votes in the Gorakhpur bypoll. The SP candidate polled 59,907 votes, while the BJP candidate is at 56,945 votes.

UP By-Election Results: Will Win Both Gorakhpur and Phulpur if There's No Foul Play: SP Leader

SP Candidate Leads By 3,760 Votes

UP By-Election Results: SP Leader Writes to State Chief Election Officer

SP leader Naresh Uttam Patel writes to State Chief Election Officer stating that media persons were removed from the counting center in Gorakhpur. He also alleged that district administration is working towards making the BJP candidate win.

UP By-Election Results: SP Leading With Over 7,000 Votes After 6th Round of Counting: DM

SP Leading by 9,466 Votes

After the eight rounds of counting, SP's Praveen Kumar Nishad is leading with 10,51,56 votes. BJP's Upendra Dutt Shukla is at second place with 95,690 votes. The margin between the two party candidates has widened to 9,466 votes.

SP Leading With a Margin of 10,598 Votes

After the eighth round of counting, SP's Praveen Kumar Nishad is leading with a margin of 10,598 with 1,19,427 votes, while BJP's Upendra Dutt Shukla is second with 1,08,829 votes.

UP By-Election Results: SP Leading With a Margin of 14,648 Votes

After the ninth round of counting, the Samajwadi Party is leading with a margin of 14,648 votes.

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SP Leading With a Margin of 14,668 Votes

SP's Praveen Kumar Nishad is leading by 14,668 votes, having registered 1,80,155 votes, while BJP's Upendra Dutt Shukla trails at second place with 1,65,487 votes after 12th round of counting.

Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut Comments on the UP Bypolls

SP Leading With a Margin of 19,201 Votes

SP's Praveen Kumar Nishad is leading by 19,201 with 2,12,061 votes polled. BJP's Upendra Dutt Shukla is second with 1,92,860 votes after 14th round of counting.

SP Leads 26,960 Votes

In the 17th round of counting, the SP margin widens by 26,960 votes polled, with the SP candidate Praveen Kumar Nishad leading with 2,62,346 votes polled and BJP's Upendra Dutt Shukla trailing on the second spot with 2,35,836 votes polled.

Mamata Congratulates Akhilesh and Mayawati

Though the final results for Phulpur and Gorakhpur bypolls haven’t been declared yet, Trinamool Congress chief and Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee congratulated the SP and BSP for their lead over the BJP.

SP Leading by Over 28,000 Votes

In the 19th round of counting, SP’s Praveen Kumar Nishad leads by 28,737 votes with 2,93,153 votes, while BJP’s Upendra Dutt Shukla is second with 2,64,416 votes polled

Didn't Expect BSP's Vote to Be Transferred to SP: KP Maurya

“We didn't expect that the BSP's vote will be transferred to the SP in such a manner. We will analyse after seeing the final results and prepare for a situation in future when the BSP, SP and Congress come together. We also have to plan our strategy for winning the 2019 elections,” KP Maurya, Deputy CM of Uttar Pradesh, told ANI.

SP Leads by 25,870 Votes After 22nd Round of Counting

After the 22nd round of counting, SP’s Praveen Kumar Nishad leads by 25,870 votes with a total of 3,34,463 votes polled. BJP’s Upendra Dutt Shukla trails second with 3,08,593 votes polled.

SP Leads by 22,954 Votes After 25th Round of Counting

After the 25th round of counting, the SP has a lead of 22,954 votes, with the party having polled 3,77,146 votes. The BJP trails with 3,54,192 votes.

Rahul Gandhi Congratulates Winning Candidates, Targets BJP

Congress President Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter to congratulate the winning candidates in the bypolls.

It is clear from the bypoll results that voters are angry with the BJP and they will vote for non-BJP candidates who have the strongest chance of winning. As far as Congress is concerned, we are committed towards re-building the party in UP, and it does not happen overnight. 
Rahul Gandhi on Twitter

SP's Ram Govind Chaudhary Meets Mayawati

With the Samajwadi Party leading in both the Gorakhpur and the Phulpur Lok Sabha seats, party leader Ram Govind Chaudhary met BSP supremo Mayawati in Lucknow.

Watch: 'Result is Unexpected, Will Review the Shortcomings': Yogi Adityanath on Bypolls

Calling the Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Sabha bypoll results a “lesson”, UP CM Yogi Adityanath cited over-confidence and the inability to understand the understanding between SP and BSP as prime reasons for the BJP’s defeat.

The fact that the BJP lost both the seats was a reason for review, the chief minister said, as reported by PTI.

When the candidates were declared, the SP, BSP and Congress were not together...they had not joined hands then. But suddenly in the middle of the election, the SP and the BSP forged an electoral understanding. The over-confidence and inability to understand the electoral understanding between the SP and the BSP led to the defeat.
Yogi Adityanath, as quoted by PTI

He went on to say:

The political deal between the BSP and SP is to stall the country’s development. To tackle this, we will come up with a strategy.
Yogi Adityanath

The chief minister said local issues led to the party's poor performance in the bypolls, and not the policies of the Centre, it was further reported by PTI.

He noted that local issues dominated and voter turnout was also low.

When the general elections are held, there will be national issues. Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, there has been a sense of confidence which is prevailing in the country...but all these will be reviewed.
Yogi Adityanath, as quoted by PTI

SP Leads by 24,723 Votes After 29th Round of Counting

After the 29th round of counting, the SP has a lead of 24,723 votes, with the party having polled 4,35,529 votes. The BJP trails with 4,10,806 votes.

SP Wins Gorakhpur by a Margin of 21,961 Votes

Watch: Akhilesh Yadav Addresses the Media After SP Wins Phulpur and Gorakhpur

I want to thank the people of Gorakhpur and Phulpur. And I want to express my gratitude towards Mayawati ji. If this is the anger of people in the areas of the CM and the deputy CM, you can imagine the anger in the rest of the country. 
Akhilesh Yadav, SP

Akhilesh went on to say that the BJP failed to bring “acche din”, owing to which the public united to bring ‘bure din’ (bad days) for the party.

“The public will give an answer to a government which would make them suffer,” he asserted.

Akhilesh attributed the SP win to the support from Dalits, farmers, labourers, women and unemployed, calling it a victory of social justice.

Akhilesh Yadav Meets Mayawati After Bypoll Win

Akhilesh Yadav is meeting BSP supremo Mayawati at her residence after the SP candidates won from the Phulpur and Gorakhpur Lok Sabha constituencies.

Akhilesh Yadav arrives at Mayawati’s residence. (Photo Courtesy: ANI)

'Perhaps Yogi Should Spend Less Time Lecturing Karnataka on Development': Siddaramaiah

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah congratulated the SP and the BSP for the “historic victory” in the UP bypolls, saying that the “unity among non-BJP parties played a key role”.

He also slammed Yogi Adityanath, saying perhaps he “should spend less time lecturing Karnataka on development”.

Akhilesh Yadav Leaves Mayawati’s Residence After Meeting Her

Samajwadi Party’s Praveen Kumar Nishad won the Gorakhpur Lok Sabha seat by a margin of 21,881 votes. The BJP polled the second highest number of votes.

  • The SP polled a total of 4,56,513 votes. The BJP came second with
    4,34,632 votes

  • SP chief Akhilesh Yadav called it a victory of social justice
  • UP CM Yogi Adityanath cited over-confidence and the inability to understand the SP-BSP agreement as prime reasons for the BJP’s defeat

(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)

Published: 13 Mar 2018,10:04 PM IST

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