Sun Feb 09 16:29:35 UTC 2025: ## BJP Wins Prestigious Milkipur By-election, Avenging Faizabad Loss

**Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh –** The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has secured a decisive victory in the high-stakes Milkipur assembly by-election, defeating the Samajwadi Party (SP) by a significant margin. BJP candidate Chandrabhan Paswan won by 61,710 votes, securing 146,397 votes against SP’s Ajit Prasad’s 84,687. This win represents a significant victory for the BJP, seen as revenge for their unexpected loss in the Faizabad Lok Sabha constituency in 2024, which included Milkipur.

The by-election, necessitated by the election of SP MP Awadhesh Prasad to the Lok Sabha, became a fiercely contested battleground. Both parties poured significant resources into the campaign, with high-profile leaders like Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath rallying support for the BJP. The BJP framed the election as a contest between “nationalism and dynastic politics,” while the SP highlighted issues like unemployment and alleged electoral malpractice by the BJP.

The Milkipur constituency, with a significant Dalit population and a diverse electorate, proved crucial. While both Paswan and Prasad belong to the Pasi caste, the BJP’s aggressive campaign focused on regaining prestige after the Faizabad defeat, a loss that surprised many given the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The SP, meanwhile, focused on local grievances and accused the BJP of voter suppression.

Akhilesh Yadav, SP chief, alleged widespread electoral malpractice and accused the Election Commission of inaction, claims the BJP vehemently denied. Despite the SP’s accusations, the BJP celebrated the win as a testament to their popularity and a sign of things to come in the 2027 state assembly elections. The high voter turnout of 57.13% underscored the significance of the contest. This victory gives the BJP a significant boost ahead of future elections in Uttar Pradesh.

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