"BJP has promised due respect to Nishad party," says Sanjay Nishad

"We are preparing for 9 seats. We will support the NDA candidates to ensure victory. BJP leader has promised that the Nishad Party will be given due respect...In a meeting, it will be decided about the candidates," said Sanjay Kumar Nishad.

Meanwhile, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari slammed the BJP saying that they (BJP) don't dare to fight in Ayodhya and that is why they made their candidate file such a petition (regarding the by-election on the Milkipur seat) and that is why they are not contesting the election in Milkipur. Adding to that he said, "If the BJP was interested then why did it not withdraw the petition or should I say they continued the petition so that elections are not held...BJP wants to run away."

Earlier on Tuesday, the Election Commission of India announced bypolls to 48 assembly constituencies including nine seats in Uttar Pradesh and the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala.

The largest number of bypolls will be held in Uttar Pradesh and seats going to the polls are Meerapur, Kundarki, Ghaziabad, Khair, Karhal, Phulpur, Katehari, Majhawan, and Sishamau.

The by-polls in Uttar Pradesh are crucial for the BJP as it suffered a setback in Lok Sabha polls. BJP could win only 33 seats compared to the 62 it won in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The BJP would be keen to regain its winning momentum in Uttar Pradesh.

Samajwadi Party, led by Akhilesh Yadav, won 37 seats in the Lok Sabha polls held earlier this year.

Congress, which fought the Lok Sabha polls in alliance with the Samajwadi Party as part of the INDIA bloc, won six seats in the state.

The by-polls are also crucial to the opposition parties. The Samajwadi Party has already declared candidates on six of the ten seats and has said it would contest the by-polls with the Congress. (ANI)