By-elections 2018: At test is the strength of the joint opposition in UP

The united opposition would be put to test as counting would be held for the various by-elections that were held on May 28. All eyes would be on Uttar Pradesh in particular after the BJP lost Gorakhpur and Phulpur recently to a joint opposition comprising the BSP and SP.

In Kairana, UP, the RLD candidate Tabbasum Hassan was supported by the SP, Congress and BSP which did not put up candidates. The election was necessitated due to the death of former MP, Kukum Singh. His daughter Mriganka Singh (BJP) is the candidate from this constituency.

In Kairana the Muslim vote is crucial and the joint opposition hopes that this would have consolidated in their favour. Out of the 16 lakh voters, nearly 6 lakh are Muslims. The BJP on the other hand is banking on the consolidation of the Gujjar, Jat, Saini, Kashyap and Dalit votes. They are hoping that the Hindu voters would have polarised in their favour.

Kairana would be a closely watched constituency as it would send a big signal ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. If the RLD candidate wins here, then it would send a strong signal to the BJP about the strength of the joint opposition in the crucial state of UP. It would be the third loss in UP for the party. In 2014, the BJP won Kairana by a thumping margin of 2.5 lakh votes.