Returning officer Nagendra Pratap Singh hands over the winning certificate to SP candidate Akash Agrawal
SP candidate Akash Agrawal defeated BJP’s Harikishore Tiwari by 4,263 votes in the teachers’ constituency. Agrawal polled 14,046 votes against Tiwari’s 9,783. Of the 29,865 votes cast, 2,128 were declared invalid. In the graduates’ constituency, BJP candidate Manvendra Pratap Singh defeated SP’s Shashank Yadav by 8,856 votes. Singh secured 31,393 votes, while Yadav polled 22,537. This time, he contested on an SP ticket after the party announced his candidature on Oct 3, replacing its earlier nominee. Repolling was held on Oct 26 amid heightened security.
Agra: Samajwadi Party (SP) has won the Agra division teachers’ MLC seat, while BJP secured the graduates’ constituency in the biennial elections. Agrawal had won the teachers’ seat as an Independent in the previous election. BJP mounted an extensive campaign for Tiwari, with ministers, MPs, MLAs and party workers campaigning across the division. Agrawal, meanwhile, sought to retain the seat after joining SP. Election Commission subsequently ordered repolling at three booths. Six election personnel, including two sector magistrates, were ordered to be suspended over alleged lapses. After the result, SP president Akhilesh Yadav criticised BJP over the alleged mistreatment of Agrawal and demanded that the administration issue the winner’s certificate without delay. In a post on X, he urged Election Commission to ensure fairness and appealed to Supreme Court and President Droupadi Murmu to take cognisance of the matter.
The results were declared on Tuesday after a tense campaign marked by allegations of polling irregularities and clashes between supporters of the two parties.