The campaign for the nine Assembly by-elections in Uttar Pradesh (UP) concluded on Monday. The election, scheduled for November 20 from 7 am to 6 pm, are regarded as a precursor to the 2027 state Assembly election. Results will be declared on November 23. For Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the by polls have turned into a matter of prestige following the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP)  lackluster performance in the recent Lok Sabha Election in the state.

These elections are seen as an opportunity for the BJP to demonstrate its resilience and rebuild its image ahead of the next Assembly election. The BJP is focusing on countering the narrative propagated by the Opposition regarding the abrogation of constitutional provisions and reservations.

The Samajwadi Party (SP) also faces significant pressure in these elections. Having achieved a remarkable performance in the Lok Sabha Election, where it secured 37 seats compared to just five in 2019, the SP now faces the challenge of retaining its momentum. The by-polls are a crucial test of the party's strategy and its claims of forming the next government in UP. A poor performance could dent the party's credibility and weaken its position in the run-up to the 2027 state elections.

While the INDIA alliance remains intact, its key constituent, the Congress has chosen not to field candidates in the by-polls, instead extending its support to the SP. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has opted to contest all nine seats, despite its recent poor performance in the Lok Sabha Election. The BSP's participation is expected to influence the results by attracting a section of Dalit voters, potentially affecting the prospects of both the BJP and the SP.

Yogi Adityanath has been at the forefront of the Bharatiya Janata Party 's (BJP) campaign, visiting each constituency at least twice, holding road shows to galvanise voter support. The BJP has intensified its efforts to wrest key SP-held seats such as Karhal and Katehari while also focusing on retaining its strongholds such as Ghaziabad, Khair, and Phulpur. The saffron party is leaving no stone unturned in its bid to reclaim the Meerapur seat, which was earlier with the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) before the party switched its alliance to the BJP. Similarly, the BJP has fielded a candidate in Majhwan, previously held by its ally Nishad Party, and is aggressively targeting SP-dominated constituencies such as Kundarki in Moradabad and Sisamau in Kanpur.

The SP led by Akhilesh Yadav, has concentrated its campaign efforts on retaining its hold over key constituencies while countering the BJP's push. Of the nine seats, four were held by the SP, three by the BJP, one by the BJP's ally Nishad Party, and one by the RLD. Eight seats fell vacant after their MLAs were elected to the Lok Sabha earlier this year. The Sisamau seat is the exception, where a bypoll is being held following the disqualification of SP MLA Irfan Solanki after his conviction in a criminal case.

The by-elections have become a crucial test for both major parties. For the BJP, a strong performance would reaffirm its dominance and help it recover from recent electoral setbacks. For the SP, retaining its seats would strengthen its position as a formidable opposition force.