Ghosi Prepares for ‘Mini Battle’ Ahead of UP Assembly Elections: Sympathy vs. Political Calculus

With the Ghosi Assembly seat now vacant, political parties in Uttar Pradesh are gearing up for a high-stakes bypoll, often described as a ‘mini battle’ ahead of the 2027 state elections. The contest is shaping up as a clash between sympathy and political strategy, with both sides weighing their options and fine-tuning election strategies.

SP Banks on Sympathy Wave

The Samajwadi Party (SP) is reportedly planning to field Sujit Singh, son of the late legislator Sudhakar Singh, as their candidate. Sujit Singh, a two-time block pramukh, could benefit from both his father’s political legacy and the sympathy vote arising from Sudhakar Singh’s untimely demise.

The BJP, meanwhile, is mobilizing its cadre to consolidate support on the ground. While Dara Singh Chauhan’s return as a candidate appears unlikely—having already been appointed minister and member of the upper house after his previous defeat—Vijay Rajbhar, a former bypoll winner, remains a potential contender for the party.

BSP Holds the Balance

Historically, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has played a crucial role in deciding outcomes in Ghosi. In the 2017 Assembly election, BJP’s Fagu Singh Chauhan won by just 7,000 votes, while BSP and SP secured over 81,000 and 59,000 votes, respectively. In the 2019 bypoll, SP candidate Sudhakar Singh, contesting without the party symbol, came close to defeating BJP’s Vijay Rajbhar by a narrow margin of 1,773 votes, thanks to the BSP’s vote share of over 50,000.

In the 2023 bypoll, with BSP and Congress opting out, Sudhakar Singh decisively defeated Dara Singh Chauhan by over 42,000 votes. This sets the stage for the upcoming by-election, where sympathy for Sudhakar Singh’s family and political calculations will both play a decisive role.

A Test Before the Big Fight

Political analysts note that this bypoll will serve as an early indicator of voter sentiment ahead of the 2027 UP Assembly elections. Both parties are expected to aggressively deploy their strategies, making Ghosi a key bellwether constituency in the state’s electoral landscape.