The Samajwadi Party (SP) has retained the Varanasi Teachers’ seat in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council elections and is heading towards victory in the Varanasi Graduates’ constituency, according to the reported results.
The outcome marks a notable performance for the party in Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s parliamentary constituency, ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
SP candidate Lal Bihari Yadav defeated BJP’s Pramod Kumar Mishra by 4,898 votes to retain the Teachers’ seat. In the Graduates’ constituency, SP candidate Ashutosh Sinha was reported to be heading for a decisive win over BJP candidate Kedar Nath Singh.
The SP also won the Agra Teachers’ constituency. However, the BJP maintained an overall advantage across the 11 Legislative Council seats contested, winning five seats and leading in another, according to the reported figures.
Speaking to ANI, Yadav credited SP chief Akhilesh Yadav for the victory and said teachers had supported the party. He also said the controversy surrounding the University Grants Commission (UGC) Bill had not influenced the outcome.
Akhilesh Yadav described the result as an indication of dissatisfaction among teachers and criticised the BJP over issues affecting their community.
The elections involve specific voter groups. Only registered graduates or eligible teachers can vote in their respective constituencies, unlike general elections, in which all eligible voters participate.
While the results may provide insight into local political dynamics and party organisation, they do not necessarily predict the outcome of the 2027 Assembly elections.
The BJP’s performance in other constituencies indicates that the contest remains regionally varied across Uttar Pradesh.
