The seats were vacated by sitting MLAs, who decided to join the ruling BSP. BSP wrested two seats from the Samajwadi Party, Malihabad in Lucknow and Bidhuna in Auraiyya, and Moradabad West from BJP.

Buoyed by the success, Mayawati said her party's success has taken the wind out of the propaganda against her party and government by opposition parties, especially Congress.

On the other hand, UPCC President Rita Bahuguna Joshi said the results had sent positive signals about the party's growth, adding that the party's vote share has increased from four per cent to 13 per cent in these assembly constituencies. For instance, in Malihabad, the Congress polled only 1.14 per cent in May 2007 elections. But this time, it secured 13.30 per cent of the votes.

In Moradabad West, Congress, which secured only 3.08 per cent last time, polled an impressive 27 per cent this time. Similarly, in Bidhuna of Aurayya it was 2.07 per cent last time as against 10 per cent now. Again, in Morna, Congress polled only 1.04 per cent last time against 3.96 per cent this time.

The biggest loss was suffered by the Samajwadi Party which had won two seats in May 2007, and was placed badly in these elections. The results confirmed the continued erosion of Muslim support from Samajwadi Party which was evident during Lok Sabha polls when former BJP chief minister Kalyan Singh joined hands with Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Significantly, Samajwadi Party candidates lost their deposits in Muslim- dominated constituencies of Morna and Moradabad West. In Moradabad West where Muslims constitute 50 per cent of the voters, SP candidate polled 12,000 votes while the Congress candidate secured an impressive 36,000 votes,

In Morna, another Muslim constituency, Noor Salim Rana got 49,000 votes while Samajwadi Party candidate polled only 19,000 votes and lost his deposit.

Similarly, in Malihabad also, Samajwadi Party, which had won the seat in May 2007, was placed third as Congress and BSP made heavy dents into its Muslim support.

Although SP president Mulayam Singh Yadav alleged that official machinery was misused by Mayawati government to rig the elections, he will have to evolve a strategy for the remaining by-elections for 12 assembly seats and one Lok Sabha seat.

It may be mentioned that Firozabad Lok Sabha seat became vacant when Mulayam Singh Yadav's son and state president of SP, Akhilesh Yadav resigned from there as he had also won from Kannauj which he retained. Congress has announced the candidature of former Samajwadi Party MP and cine star Raj Babbar who lost the Lok Sabha poll from Fatehpur Sikri to the BSP candidate by a thin margin.

Political analysts feel Muslims have shifted their base to the Congress enabling the party to gain at the cost of Samajwadi Party. But Congress could not win seats as the increase in votes was not sufficient enough.

BJP leaders were also shocked by the poor performance of party candidates. The party failed to retain Moradabad West. Nevertheless party spokesman HN Dixit blamed the loss on misuse of official machinery by Mayawati government to ensure the victory of BSP candidates. (IPA)