Lucknow: Around 14.81 lakh registered graduate and teacher voters across Uttar Pradesh will decide the fate of 152 candidates contesting 11 Legislative Council seats on Friday. It is being billed as the key electoral contest between the BJP and the SP ahead of 2027 UP elections.The five graduates’ constituencies are Lucknow, Agra, Meerut, Varanasi and Allahabad-Jhansi, while the six teachers’ constituencies include Lucknow, Agra, Meerut, Varanasi, Bareilly-Moradabad and Gorakhpur-Faizabad.Polling will be held from 8am to 4pm on Friday. Counting and declaration of results will be on Oct 27.These elections will determine the composition of a section of the 100-member UP Legislative Council, where BJP is eyeing to consolidate its position while the SP is looking to retain its influence among teachers and graduate voters.Of the 11 outgoing members, six are from BJP, three from SP and two independents. Their terms will end on Dec 6.The stakes of the MLC polls extend beyond the 11 seats. For the BJP, the elections is an opportunity to step up its organizational outreach, especially amongst the educated class, more than two years after the party was left with a lower tally in Lok Sabha elections in UP amid a steller performance by the SP.For the SP, the contest offers a chance to test its support among educated voters and build the political momentum to take on the BJP ahead of Assembly poll battle.Not surprisingly, BJP spared no effort and roped in its top UP leaders, including CM Yogi Adityanath, deputy CMs Keshav Maurya, Brajesh Pathak and UP BJP chief Pankaj Chaudjary, to carry out a strategized campaign amongst the graduate and teachers constituents.BJP’s campaign revolved around meetings with teachers’ associations, graduates, lawyers, university faculty, professionals and party workers. Senior leaders were assigned constituencies and local areas to coordinate outreach and voter mobilisation. The party members highlighted recruitment reforms, teacher-related issues and its governance record, while seeking to consolidate support among registered voters.The SP, on the other hand, sources said, relied on its candidates, local networks and outreach among teachers and graduates to challenge the BJP. For SP, experts said, the contest provides an opportunity to raise concerns among teachers, including those employed in aided and unaided institutions, and capitalise on local grievances. Its candidates will also be looking to draw support from professional networks and voters dissatisfied with the ruling party.Though the contests may not be a direct reflection of public opinion across Uttar Pradesh, its outcome will be closely watched by both parties because it comes at a time when they are preparing for the 2027 assembly polls.
