This seat has been won by BSP candidate Khatoon Taufiq who got 44,765 votes (about 30 per cent). It may be noted that in 2007 assembly elections this seat was won Khatoon's husband Taufiq whose death has resulted in the vacancy.

Khatoon's victory showed continued winning spree of ruling BSP in almost all the by-elections held since May 2007.

Enthused by the success of Dumariaganj by-elections, chief minister Mayawati announced that her party would not contest anymore by-elections till 2012. BSP supremo and chief minister Mayawati has started preparations for next assembly elections. She has dissolved all district and state units of the party paving way for re-organisation of party set-up.

Chief Minister Mayawati said that victory of her party in Dumariaganj was the approval of voters for the good governance of her government which was working for all castes and religions through their motto, 'sarvjan hitai sarvjan sukhai'.

Although opposition parties have charged Mayawati of misusing official machinery for winning the elections, political analysts feel that Congress and BSP should learn lessons from this by-election.

Shocked by poor performance of Congress in Dumariaganj assembly by-elections party high command has summoned state leaders to New Delhi for discussions.

It would be worth mentioning here that Congress candidate Ashok Singh who slipped to fifth position and lost deposit could get only 19206 votes.

Congress high command is not happy with the explanation given by UPCC president Dr Rita Bahuguna Joshi that party was able to retain its vote percent at 12.9.

At a time when Congress is working very hard to implement Mission 2012 of Rahul Gandhi to capture power in the state on its own the poor performance at Dumariaganj has come as a major set back to the party.

Senior leaders in New Delhi are not happy with Congress leaders in the state as well as party MP from Dumariaganj, Jagdambika Pal as the party miserably failed despite spending over Rs 50 lakhs in the constituency.

Besides senior leaders, the party also sent Bollywood actor and party MP Raj Babbar and film actress Nagma to win over local people of Dumariaganj. Money was spent on ferrying leaders in helicopter.

Party high command is not buying the explanation put forward by the state leaders that BSP won the election through mafia and money power and misuse of official machinery.

Congress high command is more concerned about the reports of infighting in state in general and Dumariaganj in particular.

According to reports, Muslims were annoyed at the manner in which former MLA Akhtar U Ahmad was expelled from the party. This move went against the interest of party candidate Ashok Singh who lost deposit.

Congress leaders are worried that despite the initial euphoria of Lok Sabha polls when party won 22 seats, out of 17 by-elections for UP Assembly since May 2007, the party could win only one seat, that too Lucknow west. Shyam Kishore Shukla of Congress had won from the seat where BJP had been winning.

The trend of setback for Congress is continuing as party lost in those seats also where union Minister RPN Singh and Pradip Jain had won as MLAs. Later on RPN Singh and Pradip Jain were elected to Lok Sabha, but they could not ensure victory to party candidates in by-elections. Similarly in Dumariaganj too Jagdambika Pal had won the Lok Sabha seat, but neither could he ensure victory for party candidates in assembly by-poll.

Similarly Samajwadi Party of Mulayam Singh Yadav also miserably failed in Dumariaganj as party candidate Kamal Yusuf could get only 21,294 votes and slipped to fourth position with just 14.73 per cent votes. The erosion of Muslim support from SP which was evident in Lok Sabha polls is still continuing. Although the party had fielded a Muslim candidate, but local Muslim voters preferred Brahmin candidate of Muslim political party known as Peace Party.

Significant is the emergence of Peace Party which has presence in eastern part of state. This party had also made its presence in Lok Sabha polls as well. Peace Party candidate Sachinand secured 26,336 votes (17.69 per cent).

Headed by Dr Ayub who is a successful medical doctor of Gorakhpur, Peace Party has proved to be a spoiler for SP, Congress and BSP as it made dents in Muslim support of these political parties.

Peace Party could not win the seat but it made sure that SP and Congress candidates lost their deposits.

With BSP and SP putting up Muslim candidates people were expecting division in Muslim votes to ensure success of BJP candidate Jippi Tewari who was placed second with 28,927 votes (19.43 per cent).

There is no doubt, while on the one hand, results of Dumariaganj by-polls have proved to be morale booster for ruling BSP, but on the other, it has forced the leaders of Congress, SP and BJP to think about their future strategy in the view of emergence of smaller parties and groups who may not win seats but may end up as spoilers. (IPA)