CNN Central News & Networks / ITDC India ePress / ITDC News /Agencies/ Bhopal: The results of Legislative Council elections in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra have presented a new political challenge for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s parliamentary constituency Varanasi, the BJP lost the teachers’ constituency seat, while the party also suffered a setback in Maharashtra’s Nagpur. Nagpur is the home region of Union minister Nitin Gadkari and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. These results have intensified discussion over the party’s electoral strategy and the role of the local organisation in both states.

SP wins in Varanasi

In the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council election, Samajwadi Party’s Lal Bihari Yadav defeated BJP candidate Dr Pramod Mishra from the Varanasi teachers’ constituency. Lal Bihari Yadav retained his hold on the seat. The BJP’s defeat in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s parliamentary constituency is being seen as an important political setback for the party. In the Varanasi graduates’ constituency too, SP’s Ashutosh Sinha gave a tough challenge to BJP candidate Kedarnath Singh.

Congress defeats BJP in Nagpur

In Maharashtra’s Nagpur graduates’ constituency, Congress candidate Abhijit Vanjari defeated BJP candidate and former MLA Sudhakar Kohale by 3,271 votes. Vanjari received 67,231 votes, while Kohale secured 63,960 votes. This seat has long been in an area of BJP influence. Nitin Gadkari had also earlier represented this constituency. Despite active campaigning by Gadkari and Devendra Fadnavis, the BJP candidate could not secure victory.

Political activity increases after results

In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP won six of the 11 Legislative Council seats, while the Samajwadi Party registered victory on five seats. In Maharashtra, of the results from five Legislative Council constituencies, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi won three seats and the ruling Mahayuti secured two. The results in both states indicate that local candidates, regional equations and organisational activity have a significant impact in Legislative Council elections. However, it would not be appropriate to directly predict the results of upcoming Assembly elections on the basis of these outcomes.

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