High stakes battle for both BJP and SP at Mainpuri's Karhal Assembly bypoll

SP has retained the Karhal seat in the last four elections, but BJP has been steadily gaining traction in the area since the 2017 Assembly elections, and is confident of winning the seat.

- TIKAM SHARMA

The Karhal Assembly seat in Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh, has become a focal point of political attention due to its significant political history. Following former UP Chief Minister and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav's decision to vacate the seat to contest the Lok Sabha elections, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has set its sights on capturing this Samajwadi Party (SP) stronghold. SP has consistently held the Karhal seat for the past four elections, while BJP has been slowly gaining ground in the region since the 2017 Assembly elections. BJP is confident that "Modi Ki Guarantee" proposition and the "Yogi model" will help them secure a victory.

As the by-elections for 10 Assembly seats, including Karhal, approach-coinciding with the Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly elections-all political parties have intensified their campaigns to win over voters. Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak has made multiple visits to Karhal, signalling BJP's strong commitment to winning the seat.