BJP wins Rampur, Azamgarh in big blow to SP; Rajinder Nagar goes to AAP

Lucknow: In a setback to the main opposition Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP on Sunday wrested both the Rampur and the Azamgarh Lok Sabha seats from it. BJP’s Ghanshyam Lodhi defeated Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate Mohd Asim Raja by a comfortable margin of 42,192 votes in the direct contest in Rampur, a seat vacated by SP stalwart Azam Khan after being elected to the Uttar Pradesh assembly.

In the Azamgarh Lok Sabha constituency, a seat previously held by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, BJP’s Dinesh Lal Yadav ‘Nirahua’ defeated SP candidate Dharmendra Yadav by a margin of 8,679 votes. “Lodhi has won by over 42,000 votes,” Rampur District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar told reporters after giving the winning certificate to the BJP contender. While Lodhi secured 3,67,397 votes (51.96 per cent), SP’s Raja got 3,25,205 votes (46 per cent), the Election Commission (EC) said. Raja is considered close to SP’s Mohd Azam Khan, who had won from the constituency in 2019.

“This is a victory of the people of Rampur,” Lodhi said, adding that he would now work as their “chowkidar”. Meanwhile, Azam Khan alleged misuse of official machinery in the polls and challenged that he would leave politics if any international agency conducts the polls and his party candidate gets defeated. He also said that Raja’s defeat is the defeat of democracy.

“Let elections be conducted honestly. I say the International Court of Justice should come and conduct elections here. If my candidate gets defeated then, I will leave politics,” he told reporters.

In Azamgarh, where a triangular fight was witnessed between the BJP, the SP and the BSP, saffron party candidate ‘Nirahua’ got 3,12,768 votes (34.39 per cent) and SP’s Yadav 3,04,089 (33.44 per cent) votes, the Election Commission said.

BSP candidate Shah Alaim, alias Guddu Jamali, got 2,66,210 (29.27 per cent) votes. Nirahua dedicated his victory to the people of the constituency. “It is the victory of people. Residents of Azamgarh have done wonderful work. The way you all gave me support, affection and blessings... this victory is yours. I dedicate this victory to your trust and the hardwork of party workers who are like God to me,” he said on Twitter.

Both the Rampur and the Azamgarh seats were held by the Samajwadi Party. The bypolls were necessitated by resignations of Akhilesh Yadav and Azam Khan from Azamgarh and Rampur seats respectively