SP’s loss could be BJP’s gain in Jan 28 UP MLC polls, ECI announces MLC polls for UP, Bihar & AP

@prashanthamine

Mumbai: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday announced biennial elections to 12 Elected by MLAs (EMLAs) constituencies in Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council and by-polls to 2 EMLA constituencies in Bihar and 1 EMLA constituency in Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council on January 28. The numerical equations are all set to change in Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council as Samajwadi Party (SP) is certain to lose the seats it held to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) given the current numerical strengths in the Legislative Assembly.

As per the poll schedule announced by the ECI, notification for the polls will be issued on January 11, last date for filing nomination papers is January 18, scrutiny of nomination papers is on January 19, last date for withdrawal of nomination papers is January 21, polling and counting of votes will be held on January 28, 2021.

Out of the 12 EMLAs MLCs whose term of membership is ending on January 30, 2021, BJP has 3 members, SP 6, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) 2 and Congress 1. Notable among those whose term is ending include – BJPs leader of the house, Dr Dinesh Sharma and SPs leader of opposition Ahmad Hasan. Lone Congress MLC Nasimuddin Siddiqui was disqualified on February 22, 2018.

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The current party-wise strength of the 398 member UP Legislative Assembly is as follows: Apana Dal (S) 9, BSP 17, BJP 309, Independents 3, Congress 7, NISHAD 1, RLD 1, SP 47 and SBSP 4.

The BJP should be able to win the by-elections for the two EMLA seats in the Bihar Legislative Council that have fallen vacant after two of its sitting members resigned recently. Vinod Naraian Jha whose term of membership was to end on July 21, 2022, resigned following his election to the Bihar Legislative Assembly in November 2020. While, BJP Deputy Chief Minister, Sushil Kumar Modi whose term of membership was to end on May 6, 2024, resigned following his election to the Rajya Sabha late last year.

The current party-wise strength in the 243 member Bihar Legislative Assembly is asf follows: AIMIM 5, BSP 1, BJP 74, CPI 2, CPI-M 2, CPI-ML-L 12, HAM-S 4, Independent’s 1, Congress 19, Janata Dal-United (JD-U) 43, LJSP 1, RJD 75 and VIP 4.

In the by-election for the lone EMLA seat in Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council, the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) is expected to grab the lone seat that fell vacant following the resignation of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) member Pothula Sunitha recently. Her term of membership is to expire on March 29, 2023.

The current party-wise strength in the 175 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly is as follows: Janasena Party 1, TDP 23 and YSRCP 151. Interestingly the YSRCP last year moved a resolution for scrapping the Legislative Council.