UP election: What's next for Keshav Prasad Maurya? Will Yogi, BJP replace him as deputy CM?

The stunning upset in the Sirathu assembly constituency has put a big question mark on Yogi Adityanath's deputy Keshav Prasad Maurya's future in the government.

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s record win in Uttar Pradesh assembly elections has paved the way for chief minister Yogi Adityanath to take the top office for the second consecutive term. While Adityanath comfortably sailed through the electoral test from his stronghold Gorakhpur, the stunning upset in the Sirathu assembly constituency has put a big question mark on his deputy Keshav Prasad Maurya.

UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath speaks as BJP state chief Swatantra Dev Singh (L) and deputy CMs K P Maurya (R) and Dinesh Sharma looks on, during a press conference. (PTI)

Apna Dal (Kameravadi) leader Pallavi Patel, contesting on the Samajwadi Party symbol, defeated Maurya by a margin of 7,337 votes. Patel, who took the lead in the second round of counting, garnered 46.49% of the total votes polled, leaving Maurya behind with a 43.28% vote share.

After the results were declared, Maurya tweeted, "I accept the decision by the voters of Sirathu with humility. I am grateful to the BJP workers for their hard work and the voters who reposed faith in me."

Maurya’s defeat has come as a shock for the BJP which won 255 assembly seats, with allies Apna Dal (Soneylal) and Nirbal Indian Shoshit Hamara Aam Dal (NISHAD) bagging 12 and six seats, respectively. Even a glitzy campaign from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, and Nitin Gadkari could not help Maurya’s cause. Now the question arises whether Maurya will be able to get his chair back.