The Milkipur bypolls in Ayodhya (UP) has become a prestige battle between the ruling BJP and the main opposition Samajwadi Party (SP). It goes to polls on Wednesday. While the BJP appears to have an upper hand considering the advantage of administrative machinery that the party in power gets and people flock to, however, SP looks better placed when the caste composition is considered and response to its roadshows and rallies is concerned. Also, the history favours the SP. Compared to six victories scored by the SP in the last 33 years in this seat, BJP has won this seat only once.

But neither of the two parties are taking this election lightly and had begun their preparations much ahead of the election announcement. In fact, if BJP sources are to be believed, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has begun strategizing for this seat soon after the Lok Sabha elections. Before the conclusion of campaign on the seat on Tuesday, BJP had deployed a team of six ministers and about 20 MLAs to manage the election and work on the grounds. The Chief Minister himself has addressed more than five rallies in this election along with five each by BJP State President Bhupinder........

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