NEW DELHI: The Samajwadi Party (SP) has secured victory in the Sisamau Assembly by-election, with Naseem Solanki defeating her closest rival, BJPโs Suresh Awasthi, by a margin of 8,564 votes.
Naseem, the wife of jailed former MLA Irfan Solanki, garnered 69,714 votes, while the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate Virendra Kumar finished third. The SP also maintained its lead in two other constituencies, while the ruling BJP was leading in five of the nine Uttar Pradesh assembly segments where bypolls were held on November 20.
Sisamau emerged as a closely watched constituency, given its long-standing association with the SP and the personal circumstances surrounding Naseem Solankiโs candidacy. The seat, considered an SP stronghold for nearly 25 years, became vacant after Irfan Solanki was jailed.
By fielding Naseem, the SP successfully retained its dominance, leveraging an emotional campaign centered on Irfanโs incarceration and the partyโs traditional support base.
This was Naseem Solankiโs first election, marking her debut in politics. Initially uninvolved in political activities, she stepped forward to represent her husbandโs legacy following his imprisonment. Her campaign, which highlighted the challenges faced by her family and appealed to votersโ emotions, played a key role in her victory.
The SPโs decision to back Naseem proved to be a strategic move. The constituencyโs significant Muslim voter base, coupled with the Solanki familyโs local influence and sympathy for Irfanโs situation, contributed to the SPโs win.
The ruling BJP, aiming to build momentum ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, was keen to secure Sisamau but fell short. While the BJP and its ally Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) led in other constituencies, Sisamau reinforced the SPโs presence in Uttar Pradesh and reflected the INDIA blocโs ongoing influence in the state.
