SP surges ahead, Rahul fails to charm

Uttar Pradesh seems to be heading towards a hung assembly with no party appearing to get a clear cut majority, according to the latest trends available.

The Samajwadi Party has surged ahead and has emerged as the single largest party. Political observers indicate that the party should manage to reach around 180 to 185 seats, short of the magic number of 203.

According to the trends available for 392 seats, SP is leading in 165, BSP in 97, BJP in 61, Congress in 51.
The BJP which sprung a surprise by gaining strongly in the initial rounds, seems to have halted as the counting progresses.
The ruling BSP, which was doing very bad intially, has improved its position and is now second after the SP.

But the Congress continues to be at the fourth position, despite the strong campaign led by its general secretary Rahul Gandhi. Clearly, the magic of Rahul Gandhi has failed to work in the state. He criss-crossed the state, addressing 211 rallies and held roadshows in 18 constituencies for more than three months between November 14 last year to February 29.

Congress is contesting 357 seats in the state out of 403 seats where it won 22 seats in the 2007 state polls.

The ruling BSP, which won 206 in last elections, in UP has contested all 403 seats, SP 402, BJP 398 and RLD 46. Exit polls have predicted a hung assembly in the state with the SP showed as cornering the major chunk of seats.

In 2007 polls, SP had got 97 seats, BJP 50 and RLD, which contested in alliance with BJP won 10 seats. Independents and others had got 17 seats.

The fate of 6839 candidates, who are in fray for 403 seats in the state will be decided. In the last assembly elections held in 2007, 6086 candidates contested the polls.

Stakes are high for all the major political parties including BJP, BSP, SP and Congress-RLD alliance as there was multicornered contest on a number of seats.

The results would decide the political fates of stalwarts like Union ministers Beni Prasad Verma, Sriprakash Jaiswal, Salman Khurshid, Congress’ UP Incharge Digvijay Singh, Mulayam Singh Yadav and his son Akhilesh Yadav, besides Uma Bharati and the incumbent Mayawati.

This would also decide whether the factor of jailed former minister Babu Singh Kushwaha’s worked. Khushwaha had campaigned in favour of BJP candidates, worked in favour of the party specially in Bundelkhand region.

This year UP registered record polling in all seven phases. An average 59.17 per cent polling was registered which is a record in electoral politics of the state.

In last elections, while BSP won absolute majority with 206 seats, SP, which was the ruling party before 2007 elections, was reduced to 97, BJP got 51 and Congress 22.