Kairana bypoll: Must win for BJP after drubbing in Gorakhpur, Phulpur

With recent losses in by-elections held for Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Sabha seats, the pride is at stake for the BJP in Kairana. The opposition parties would be hoping that by consolidating the anti-BJP vote it will repeat its success in Gorakhpur and Phulpur bye-elections earlier this year when the ruling party suffered humiliating defeats.

In Uttar Pradesh, the Kairana election is the fourth Lok Sabha bye-election since 2014.

The Kairana seat fell vacant after the death of BJP MP Hukum Singh, whose daughter Mriganka Singh is now the party candidate. Singh's main contest is against Rashtriya Lok Dal's Tabassum Hasan, who is also supported by the Congress, the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party.

The BJP is relying on a consolidation of Gujjar, Jat, Kashyap, Saini and a section of Dalit votes. As per reports, Kairana has approximately 16 lakh voters, out of which there are over five and a half lakh Muslims and over two lakh Jats.

Today's bypoll results would be closely watched as it may give a fair idea to the opposition if they can take on the BJP's might in 2019 by joining hands.

Altogether, results of bye-elections for four parliamentary and nine assembly seats across states will be declared today. Polling took place on Monday.