Pharenda, in Maharajganj district, produced one of the tightest results of the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly election. Virendra Chaudhary of the Congress defeated Bajrang Bahadur Singh of the BJP by just 1,246 votes. Ranked by margin, it was number 20 among the closest of all 403 seats. This analysis uses Election Commission of India figures to explain how the contest was decided and how it compares with 2017.
The 2022 result in Pharenda
| Rank | Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virendra Chaudhary | Congress | 85,181 | 40.28% |
| 2 | Bajrang Bahadur Singh | BJP | 83,935 | 39.69% |
| 3 | Ishoo Chaurasiya | BSP | 21,665 | 10.24% |
| 4 | Shankh Lal Majhi | Samajwadi Party | 16,457 | 7.78% |
| – | NOTA | – | 1,484 | – |
Table: UP Election News. Data: Election Commission of India.
Pharenda had 3,51,362 registered electors in 2022 and 2,11,490 votes were polled, a turnout of about 60.19%. A total of 9 candidates contested. The winning margin of 1,246 votes works out to about 0.59% of all votes polled.
Why the margin was so thin
The third placed BSP candidate Ishoo Chaurasiya polled 21,665 votes, more than the winning margin. In a contest this close, the votes taken by the third candidate could have changed the outcome had even a small share gone the other way. NOTA received 1,484 votes, more than the winning margin itself. The top two candidates together took 79.97% of the votes, which shows that other candidates still drew a meaningful share.
How 2017 compares
In 2017 the seat was won by Bajrang Bahadur Singh of the BJP, who defeated Virendra Chaudhary of the Congress by 2,354 votes. The seat therefore changed hands in 2022, moving from the BJP to the Congress. Turnout was 59.64% in 2017 against 60.19% in 2022.
| Year | Winner | Party | Runner up party | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Bajrang Bahadur Singh | BJP | Congress | 2,354 |
| 2022 | Virendra Chaudhary | Congress | BJP | 1,246 |
The district context
Pharenda is one of 5 assembly seats in Maharajganj district. In 2022 the district’s seats were shared as follows: BJP 3, Congress 1, NISHAD Party 1. In 2017 the tally was BJP 4, Independent 1. The narrow result in Pharenda therefore sits within a district where more than one party won seats.
What it means for 2027
Seats decided by a few thousand votes or less are marginal seats, and parties usually treat them as priority constituencies. A small change in turnout, alliance arrangements or candidate choice can tip such a seat. With the next assembly election due by early 2027, Pharenda is likely to be watched closely by both the ruling alliance and the opposition. Any assessment of 2027, however, will depend on factors that the 2022 numbers alone cannot capture.
How the UP assembly is elected
Uttar Pradesh has 403 assembly constituencies, of which 84 are reserved for Scheduled Castes and 2 for Scheduled Tribes. Their boundaries were fixed by the Delimitation Order of 2008, and the 2012, 2017 and 2022 elections were all held on these same boundaries, so results from these years can be compared seat by seat. Members are elected under the first past the post system, which means the candidate with the most valid votes wins even without a majority of votes. The 18th Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly first met in 2022, so the next assembly election is due by early 2027.
All numbers in this article are taken from the official results published by the Election Commission of India. Vote shares are calculated on total valid votes, including NOTA where stated.
Also read:
- Mariyahu Seat 2022: Decided by 1,206 Votes, an Analysis
- यूपी चुनाव 2022 के नतीजे: NDA को 273, सपा गठबंधन को 125 सीटें; आंकड़ों में पूरी तस्वीर
- यूपी चुनाव 2017 के नतीजे: भाजपा को 312 सीटें, बसपा ने सपा से ज्यादा वोट पाकर भी जीतीं सिर्फ 19
Source: Election Commission of India, statistical reports of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly general elections 2017 and 2022. Original data: Election Commission of India statistical reports.
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