The results of these assembly elections are very important for ruling Samajwadi Party as the Party had these seats in 2012 assembly polls and vacancy was caused by death of party MLAs. Samajwadi Party is under pressure to retain all the three seats with huge margin as the victory would be a reflection on good governance of Akhilesh Yadav government.

Normally the results of by-elections are always in favour of ruling party and even it loses, the party would say that it had nothing to do with the performance of the government. Samajwadi Party national President Mulayam Singh Yadav who is very critical of Akhilesh Yadav government and not satisfied with the performance of the ministers and senior party leaders, has taken these elections very seriously. Mulayam has warned that if there was setback to party candidates in these elections, action would be taken against those given the responsibility to after the byelections.

There is a feeling in the party that victory in these by-elections will provide much needed boosting to party rank and file. Although BSP is not contesting these elections, Mayawati has given instructions to party rank and file to spread the message in the all constituencies to support powerful independents to ensure defeat of political parties.

The byelections are very important for AIMIM president Assauddin Owassi who is testing his ground through party candidate in Bikapur. Owassi is drawing good crowd in his poll meeting and the party has put up dalit candidate to forge dalit-muslim unity. Now it is to be seen as to how people of Bikarpur which is part of sensitive Faizabad reacts to the call of Owassi who has launched campaign against Mulayam Singh Yadav and his chief minister son. Akhilesh Yadav. Owassi has been saying that the results of 2017 assembly results would end the politics of Mulayam and his son Akhilesh Yadav as their party would be defeated.

Now it is to be seen that whether BJP or Owassi is able to in poach dalit votes of BSP which would be suicidal for Mayawati for not contesting these elections. Attempts are being made to communalise elections in western UP seats of Muzaffarnagar and Deoband. The candidates are busy in communalising the atmosphere through hate speeches.

It would be worth mentioning here that BJP had succeeded in western UP during 2014 Lok Sabha polls as the voters had been polarised after several incidents of communal violence that region. It is also testing time for RLD chief Ajit Singh and his alliance with JD (U) and other smaller parties as they are contesting all the assembly seats. Ajit Singh had lost his support in powerful jat community during last Lok Sabha polls.

In order to capitalise on sympathy factor Samajwadi Party gave tickets to all the family members of the party MLAs who lost their lives after winning the polls. (IPA)