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.
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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.
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.
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.
Earlier, the Gorakhpur DM had told ANI:
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.
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.
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.
He went on to say:
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.
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
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.
'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
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