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Kundarki assembly constituency became a battleground for high-stakes political competition during the 2024 Uttar Pradesh by-polls.
NEW DELHI: The Kundarki assembly constituency became a battleground for high-stakes political competition during the 2024 Uttar Pradesh by-polls, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) facing a stiff challenge from the Samajwadi Party (SP). While BJP candidate Ramveer Thakur sought to replicate his party’s past successes, SP’s Rajesh Yadav mounted a formidable campaign that made the by-election one of the most closely watched contests in the state.
The by-poll saw a neck-and-neck race between the BJP and SP, with both parties focusing on issues resonating with the local electorate. Thakur campaigned on a platform highlighting BJP’s development agenda, particularly infrastructure improvements and welfare schemes, while Yadav emphasized rural distress, unemployment, and caste-based mobilization.
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SP’s strategy appeared to make significant inroads among backward classes and minorities, two key voter groups in Kundarki. On the other hand, BJP relied heavily on its core base of upper caste and urban voters while banking on Thakur’s local popularity.
The 2019 by-polls in Kundarki were a landmark for the BJP, with Ramveer Thakur delivering a surprise victory against SP’s Mohammed Khalid by a slim margin. The victory was seen as a breakthrough for BJP in a constituency traditionally dominated by opposition parties. However, the margin of victory highlighted the fragile nature of BJP’s support in the region, setting the stage for intense competition in 2024.
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The results of the 2024 by-poll will hold significant implications for both parties. A BJP win would reinforce its narrative of sustained popularity and governance, while an SP victory would underscore the party’s resurgence and its ability to challenge BJP’s dominance in Uttar Pradesh.
As the counting day approaches, Kundarki stands as a litmus test for the BJP’s ability to hold its ground in rural constituencies and for the SP’s efforts to rebuild its grassroots appeal. This by-election will likely shape the larger political narrative leading into the 2025 assembly elections.
