BJP wins Majhawan by-election, retains stronghold in Mirzapur

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has emerged victorious in the Majhawan Assembly by-election in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, with Suchismita Maurya reclaiming the seat by defeating Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate Dr. Jyoti Bind. Maurya secured a lead of 4,836 votes, maintaining BJP’s dominance in the region.

This by-election witnessed a voter turnout of 50.41 percent, a decline that concerned political parties as low voting percentages often alter expected outcomes. However, BJP’s strategic approach ensured its continued grip on the constituency, which holds historical significance.

The Majhawan by-election featured three major contenders, Suchismita Maurya (BJP), Dr. Jyoti Bind (SP) and Deepak Tiwari alias Deepu (BSP).

From the beginning of the vote count on Saturday morning, Maurya led the race, surpassing Dr. Jyoti Bind of SP in every round. By the 22nd round of counting, she was ahead by a decisive margin of 7,107 votes. The final tally gave Maurya 65,183 votes, while Dr. Bind garnered 58,076 votes.

This victory marks a significant moment for Suchismita Maurya, who had previously served as the MLA from this constituency. Her win reaffirms BJP’s stronghold in the region, which has shifted political allegiances over the decades—from Congress in its early years to BSP, and now BJP.

Majhawan, a reserved seat until 1974 and has seen a mix of parties claiming victories over the years, Congress dominated the seat until the 1980s, BSP gained traction in the 1990s and BJP has now solidified its influence. The Samajwadi Party has yet to win this seat, even with a strong effort this time by fielding Dr. Jyoti Bind, daughter of Ramesh Bind, who was defeated by Maurya in 2017. The election carried a personal undertone of revenge for the Bind family, but BJP’s strategy proved more effective.

Majhawan’s electoral outcomes are significantly influenced by its caste composition. The region has approximately 60,000 each of Dalit, Brahmin, and Bind voters, along with sizable populations of Kushwaha (30,000), Pal (22,000), Rajput (20,000), Muslim (22,000), and Patel (16,000) voters. The seat, under Mirzapur Lok Sabha constituency, has been represented by Apna Dal (S) chief Anupriya Patel as MP for three consecutive terms.